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.

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.

PT/OT The New Wave Bathing & Transfer System vs. Blue Wave Bath Chair November 08, 2016 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
Product photo of the Rifton adaptive bath chair the WAVE in the new color blue
What have we done to improve our old bath chair? Here are the key features that distinguish our new Wave Bathing & Transfer System: Larger and Wider The Wave bathing system still comes in three sizes, but there are some important differences. The seat on the small and medium is now wider – a full 15” – with open sides so the seat is comfortable for all sizes. And the large has a 17...
PT/OT Adaptive Equipment for Classrooms Series: Part 3 of 3 March 13, 2016 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
A teacher outside the classroom works with a student on functional mobility using a Rifton Pacer gait trainer.
Today’s post is the third in a series of articles on the topic of adaptive equipment use in the classroom. Adaptive equipment, used appropriately, serves as a teaching tool for students to learn motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking, while engaged in the curriculum. This post focuses on walking, emphasizing the importance of reducing prompts to increase independence. Adaptive...
PT/OT Adaptive Equipment for Classrooms Series: Part 2 of 3 March 07, 2016 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
A teacher helps a student in the classroom transition from adaptive standing equipment to a chair
Today’s post is the second in a series of articles on the topic of adaptive equipment use in the classroom. Adaptive equipment, used appropriately, serves as a teaching tool for students to learn motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking, while engaged in the curriculum. This post focuses on standing, including research evidence and tips to promote standing as a motor skill. Adaptive...
PT/OT Adaptive Equipment for Classrooms Series: Part 1 of 3 February 29, 2016 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
A teacher smiled at a special needs student seated in a adaptive chair practicing motor skills on a computer screen
This post is the first in a series of articles on the topic of adaptive equipment use in the classroom. Adaptive equipment, used appropriately, serves as a teaching tool for students to learn the motor skills of sitting, standing, and walking, while engaged in the curriculum. This post focuses on active sitting as a motor skill. Adaptive Equipment for Classrooms Series: Part 2 of 3 Adaptive Equipment for...
PT/OT Teamwork in a Task-Oriented Approach December 01, 2015 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
Educators and therapists sitting with children in a colorful special needs playroom, work as a team to help students practice their motor skills
Task-oriented therapy approaches are used widely in school systems across the country. This is because students with disabilities learn and respond to their greatest potential when motor learning is incorporated into functional and meaningful tasks throughout the school day. One of the most successful and recognized task oriented methodologies is the MOVE Program. Within the MOVE curriculum, as in all task...
PT/OT The MOVE Curriculum as a Task-Oriented Approach October 02, 2015 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
A therapist assists a child in adaptive chair using a computerized screen to practice motor learning tasks
Children with severe disabilities have many complex needs. One of the most evident is a lack of motor control that prevents them from accomplishing functional movement needed for activities of daily life. Therefore, an urgent need for this population is to develop therapeutic approaches that emphasize functional movement and promote a higher quality of life. I suggest that a task-oriented approach is...
Stories Opportunity with a New Set of Wheels June 17, 2014 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
Two brothers smiling at the camera are outside on adaptive tricycles with blues skies in the background
Patrick received his first trike over two years ago because of the difficulty he was having with walking. His endurance was poor, he tended to use a crouch gait and his feet frequently hurt after any ambulation. He started with a small red Rifton Tricycle and it soon became one of his main options for outdoor mobility. Since using the trike over the past two years, Patrick’s lower extremity strength...
Evidence Based Practice Three Principles of Neural Plasticity to Apply in Your Rehabilitation Practice December 03, 2013 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
A therapist helps guide a young man during neural plasticity rehabilitation as he walks in a gait trainer
There has been a great deal of interest in recent years in the study of plasticity in the nervous system. Plasticity simply means the capacity of the central nervous system to adapt and change. Changes in the structure and function of the nervous system accompany improvements in motor skills that happen with learning and with rehabilitation after neurological damage. Although much of the work on neural...
News MOVE ing Forward January 08, 2013 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
moveconferencemodelsites_feature
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 designed to teach students with disabilities basic functional motor skills of sitting, standing, walking and transitions needed for life within the home and community environments. The last fifteen years...
PT/OT Compensation and Recovery September 18, 2012 by Gilbert Thomson, PT
compensationrecoverytherapyrehabilitation_feature
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 needed to allow the task to be accomplished “normally” (recovery).There is a great dialogue on this topic posted on the Journal of Neurologic PT (JNPT) discussions page which I highly...
Load More