Pediatric Therapy Training

External Supports in Pediatric Therapy

Kristen — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:00:10 +0000

I’m often asked by participants in my workshops to discuss external supports that I use to augment and extend my handling skills when treating the children in my pediatric physical therapy practice. We all learn tricks of the trade so to speak as we develop and refine our clinical skills throughout our professional careers. Over the years I’ve learned to utilize many supports that work very effectively to enhance a child’s functional ability

Treating the School-age Child: Assessing and Gaining Spinal Mobility

Kristen — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:00:33 +0000

By: Kristen Birkmeier, MSPT Checking spinal mobility with a 13 year old child with CP spastic quadriplegia in the school environment…. Utilizing a bolster that allows the child to sit with hips and knees flexed at 90 degrees is very helpful in that the equipment will fully support the child’s weight while you assess their spinal flexion curve by having them flex forward against the bolster. Spread your hands and place them in the apex of the spinal flexion curvature on the child’s back being careful not to cross over their spine with your hands. Lean into the child’s back with your shoulders over your hands and use intermittent firm pressure downward to gently decrease the flexion curve by gaining flattening of the spinal curve under your hands. Gradually move upward and downward from the apex of the curvature with 4-5x downward pressure through your hands. Help the child to sit upright and prepare for lateral bending over your thigh to elongate one side of his trunk as seen in this photo.

Hold the child’s thigh down with your leg and elongate one side of his trunk by taking his arm up overhead in external rotation of the glenohumeral joint and bring his rib cage down towards his pelvis with inward/downward pressure through your open hand and palm placed on and shaped to his

The Importance of Teamwork in Treating the Pediatric Patient Part 2

Kristen — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:00:27 +0000

Last month I wrote about the importance of teamwork when working with a pediatric patient. I would like to expand upon those thoughts to further explain the importance of teamwork as we work together to optimize a child’s functional outcome. Over many years of clinical practice treating infants and children with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor dysfunction, I’ve come to the conclusion that in

The Importance of Team-work in Treating the Pediatric Patient

Kristen — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:59:32 +0000

By Kristen Birkmeier, MSPT
September 2009

The beauty of the NDT approach for me has always been the common sense and practical approach to assessment and treatment.

NDT provides us with a rational framework for identifying the sensorimotor impairments that each child demonstrates, tying these impairments to the child’s functional limitations, and designing specific treatment strategies to effectively address the child’s impairments in order to effect positive functional outcomes.

Learning to utilize this analytical process enables you to break down what often appears to be a challenging and overwhelming

How To Improve Shoulder Girdle Mobility

Kristen — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:25:46 +0000

Pediatric Therapist, Kristen Birkmeier demonstrates how to properly lengthen the musculature in the shoulder girdle for improved mobility at the Pediatric Therapy Training Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana in August 2009. This is one of the active, hands-on labs she conducts for therapists during the conference.

Is My Baby Alright?

Kristen — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:00:54 +0000

How do you know if your baby is progressing age-appropriately in their developmental skills? And what can you do if you have concerns and feel that you need help for your baby? The following checklist was developed to help you identify any developmental areas of concern you might have regarding your baby, and to be used as a starting point in discussing your concerns with your

Facilitating a child from lower to higher postures

Kristen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:00:36 +0000

Facilitating a child from side sit to tall kneel and up to stand at a support surface takes a little practice, but is really quite easy to do.

When To Use Infant Walkers

Kristen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:00:58 +0000

I am often asked my opinion, both by clinicians and parents, regarding the use of infant walkers. Most likely the parents have been told by the infant’s pediatrician that they should not use an infant walker, and the parents are seeking a second opinion. This is how I typically answer the question: BabyWalkerI do not recommend use of infant walkers for babies until they are able to

How to Use Therapy Balls in Your Pediatric Practice

Kristen — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:00:01 +0000

Kristen Birkmeier works with Therapists on how to use balls and bolsters

Most pediatric therapists utilize movable surfaces in their pediatric practice, whether they work in the home, school, clinic or hospital setting. The purpose of doing so is to provide the child with postural input that allows them to develop the ready muscle state and balance responses needed to perform daily functional activities. There are many options available, but the most common include

Pediatric Physical Therapist and Trainer Kristen Birkmeier Launches Training Website

Kristen — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:52:46 +0000

Pediatric Physical Therapist and nationally recognized therapy trainer Kristen Birkmeier, MSPT has teamed up with Duvall Consulting to launch her Pediatric Therapy Training.com website. Kristen teaches extensively throughout the U.S. and is highly sought after for her effective workshops that focus on teaching therapists how to help infants and children with cerebral palsy and other neuro-motor dysfunction achieve positive functional outcomes in an efficient and timely manner. She