Gilbert Thomson, PT

Gilbert Thomson, PT

I’ve been a physical therapist since 1996 when I graduated from the University at Stony Brook, and I’ve always enjoyed working with children. I have been involved in product design with Rifton on a number of different projects including tricycles, seating, and toileting products.

Another area of interest for me has been the MOVE program and how it relates to our current understanding of neuroscience and movement. In fact I wrote a book on this called Children with Severe Disabilities and the MOVE Curriculum which was published in 2005. Information regarding my book can be found here: http://www.rifton.com/resources/MOVE_book/introduction.html

More recently I spent six years in Australia with my family, doing clinical work and conducting trainings in the use of the MOVE Curriculum. In addition to physical therapy and my work designing new products for Rifton I enjoy spending time with my four children, especially outdoors birding or fishing.

A stack of MOVE pamphlets on hygiene and toileting presented at the Conference to Model Site representatives

MOVE-ing Forward

January 8, 2013 by Gilbert Thomson, PT

An update on the MOVE Curriculum As many of you will know, we at Rifton have worked with MOVE International over many years. For those who don’t know, the MOVE program is an activity-based curriculum...

A man in a blue gait trainer practices ambulation aided by two PTs at a facility

Compensation and Recovery

September 18, 2012 by Gilbert Thomson, PT

Should PTs train for compensation or recovery? Clinicians today are debating whether interventions should focus on teaching whatever is required to accomplish a task (compensation) or promote the neuroplasticity...

A woman assists a young boy from a wheelchair to an adaptive stander for motor skills training

Motor Learning & Practice part III

July 17, 2012 by Gilbert Thomson, PT

Today’s post concludes our discussion on Motor Learning and Practice. The introductory post defined motor learning terminology, discussed the MOVE Curriculum (as an example of applied motor learning)...

A young boy is helped out of his activity chair by a therapist to practice relearning motor skills

Motor Learning & Practice part II

June 26, 2012 by Gilbert Thomson, PT

This post continues our discussion begun last week, Motor Skills Learning & Practice part I, where we defined motor learning terminology, discussed the MOVE Curriculum (as an example of applied motor...

A toddler, with the help of a therapist, practices control in a gait trainer while learning functional motor skills

Motor Learning & Practice

June 19, 2012 by Gilbert Thomson, PT

Today’s post is the first in a series of articles on motor learning and practice. You’ll notice that I make frequent reference to the MOVE Curriculum. For those unfamiliar with this, MOVE is an activity-based...