PT/OT

The Nice F-Words for Children with Medical Complexity

December 20, 2022 by Cynthia Dodds, PT, PhD
A girl sits on a Rifton Adaptive Tricycle, smiling and waving, with her caretaker next to her.

For those of us working with medically fragile children we have our own set of F-words, and none of them unpleasant. Aligned in the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the F-words of Fitness, Function, Fun, Friends, and Family provide a lighthearted pathway to rehabilitation and a healthy future for children with disabilities.

Evidence Based Practice Evidence Update: Maintenance of Functional Gains Following an Adaptive Cycling Program November 02, 2022 by Elena Noble, MPT
A boy pedals a blue Rifton Adaptive Tricycle, while his therapist walking beside him.
Current evidence endorses adaptive cycling as an effective and promising intervention to improve motor and social outcomes for children with cerebral palsy.
PT/OT Adaptive Tricycles in Schools September 29, 2022 by Elena Noble, MPT
A girl rides on a red Rifton Adaptive Tricycle.
For a child with a disability such as cerebral palsy, the primary goal for the school-based therapist is to improve access to education.
Tips & Advice Navigating the Funding Maze for Assistive Technology August 08, 2022 by Maria A. Jones, PT, PhD
A girl walking in a Rifton Pacer, smiling with her therapist
These funding tips will help you successfully navigate funding sources more effectively and avoid unnecessary delays, to get children the equipment they need.
PT/OT Clinical Perspectives on Postural Management for Hip Health July 13, 2022 by Michelle Meier, PT, DPT
A boy sitting on a Rifton Activity Chair, with his therapist standing next to him, smiling at each other
Recent research provides evidence-based guidelines for postural management intervention in lying, supported sitting and standing for children with non-ambulant CP.
PT/OT Pacer Positioning In Depth June 10, 2022 by Elena Noble, MPT
Cathy Ripmaster, MSPT
In this video series, Cathy Ripmaster, MSPT presents positioning tips and guidance for the different features of the Pacer gait trainer to address a variety of support needs.
PT/OT Focusing on Participation for Children with Autism April 27, 2022 by Karen Tartick, PT
A child with autism sits in a Rifton compass chair to participate in music class.
When I first graduated in 1984 and worked with children in the schools, physical therapists typically did not work with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
PT/OT Promoting Fitness, Function and Physical Activity in School-Based Physical Therapy March 14, 2022 by Maggie O’Neil, PT, PhD, MPH
A boy riding on a Rifton Adaptive Tricycle
School-based physical therapists can promote student wellness and health through strategies to improve fitness, function and physical activity.
Evidence Based Practice Updates in Motor Learning February 14, 2022 by Lori Potts, PT
A girl walks in a Rifton Pacer gait trainer, accompanied by a caretaker
Research continues to increase knowledge in the field of motor learning. Understanding the mechanisms of motor learning can contribute to therapist interventions to further promote motor skills.
Stories Death of a Father and a Founder December 14, 2021 by Joe Keiderling
Jerry and Nancy Voll in New York City, October 2016
Last month saw the death of one of Rifton’s founding fathers. Jerry Voll grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and studied for the ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania.
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