PT/OT

Children with medical complexity benefit from use of supportive walkers and gait trainers for upright mobility opportunities.

Creative mobility initiatives and activity-based strategies can improve health and foster inclusion for children with disabilities.

Last week, Rifton offered the first in a series of webinars. Standers: What does the research say? Watch the recording below to learn interesting research findings on tone, ROM, bone mineral density, and hip stability. Packed into 30 minutes, this webinar includes interesting research findings on muscle tone and range of motion, bone mineral density, and the issue of hip displacement for children with...

Typically developing children reach most motor milestones in a fairly predictable manner. By six months babies are rolling; by eight months they are creeping on all fours and sitting on their own and by ten-twelve months they are standing and getting ready to take their first steps. During this part of the first year of life, typically developing babies are exploring their environment, interacting with...

For all of us, standing is an integral part of the developmental sequence. And particularly for people with motor impairments and physical disabilities it is one of the key building blocks that leads to exploratory mobility. (Bower, E.) A child who is unable to stand may be missing out on developmental learning and interaction with the environment. We know the many benefits of standing as well: improved...

For decades already we’ve seen standing programs used as a therapeutic intervention for adults with neurological conditions. We’ve known that without such intervention, patients with spinal cord injuries, strokes, traumatic brain injuries or multiple sclerosis spend hours and hours each day in sedentary postures—with devastating results. Sitting for upwards of eight hours a day leads to...

Many people with compromised musculoskeletal systems can benefit from adapted standing programs. Ranging from diagnosis of cerebral palsy to spinal cord injury or muscular dystrophy, research shows that standing can help improve pulmonary function, musculoskeletal development, postural control, intestinal motility and reduce tone. Rifton produces a line of adaptive standers which are known for their simple...

Jan Scharnberg is a physical therapist employed by Grant Wood Area Education Agency, serving schools in the Cedar Rapids district of Iowa. Eleven delightful students with severe disabilities attend two classrooms at Truman Elementary in Cedar Rapids, IA. Mary Craven, special educator, teaches the younger students, and Lisa Perry has the classroom of older students. Several of these students can...