Stories
Using the MOVE Program and Active Seating for Great Gains
February 18, 2019
by Deborah Corradi-Scalise, PT, DPT, MA
Justin attends the Children’s Learning Center in Roosevelt, New York, on Long Island. He is now 19 years old, and due to the implementation of the MOVE® Program Justin has gained significant mobility skills in the past two years.
Prior to MOVE®, Justin typically sat in his classroom chair with both feet up on the chair with his head down between his legs. He was unmotivated to move out of...
Stories
A Dramatic Rehab Triumph with Rifton's TRAM
July 16, 2018
by Cindy Tamayo, PT, MA
We have nothing but praise for the Rifton TRAM! As the rehab services manager for a children’s hospital in Honolulu, I am amazed at how this product enables us to deliver rehab services. Our goal is to provide the highest quality care to children with a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions and other healthcare needs.
The TRAM proved itself to be an effective and safe method to mobilize one of...
PT/OT
Writing SMART Goals for Adaptive Equipment
May 28, 2018
by Margaret Rice, PT
When using adaptive equipment it is important to have high standards for goal writing and data collection. Adaptive equipment spans a huge range from gait trainers to pencil grips. How many times have you seen adaptive equipment that was recommended for a student not being used properly or to its full potential? It is important to establish SMART goals for adaptive equipment the moment it is put into use...
Stories
Great Strides with the Dynamic Rifton Pacer and Treadmill Base
May 07, 2018
by Shirley Dzikowski, PT
I have had great success with the dynamic Rifton Pacer gait trainer matched with Rifton’s treadmill base. Because my clients are completely supported, including their hands and arms, they are safe to work over a moving treadmill base.
Some of my clients even “run” on the treadmill at 2.0 and 2.5 mph as I have placed them up a bit higher and they learn how to move their feet quicker. This...
PT/OT
Tips and Tricks for Getting More Out of Your Rifton TRAM
April 23, 2018
by Christy Hupka, PT
The Rifton TRAM provides a lot of flexibility within our school setting for standing, walking, and transfers. Mostly it is used for safe transfers that would typically require a two-person lift. However, in one of my schools it has provided a great solution for two students who needed more flexibility in their standing and walking routines at school. Here are two examples:
Case 1: This...
PT/OT
New Webinar on Motor Learning
April 17, 2018
by Lori Potts, PT
On April 12, we hosted a webinar, Progressive Gait Training: Motor Learning Strategies and the Research, discussing motor skill acquisition through practice, feedback and prompt reduction. It concluded with a demonstration of the Rifton Pacer and tips for therapeutic and functional use of the Pacer emphasizing the benefits of dynamic support and the reduction of physical assistance to increase...
Stories
Using the TRAM for Safe Transfers and Mobility in the School Setting
March 13, 2018
by Terri Goebel, PT, Kellie Ray, ESE Teacher and Tara Wayland, OTR/L
Our team of therapists and educators works together to provide opportunities for functional mobility to our students throughout the school day.The challenges we face include a variety of health diagnoses, behavioral management issues, and cognitive and physical deficits. These situations require team problem solving for safe and efficient physical management of the student while maximizing participation in...
Webinars
Standers – What does the research say?
This 30-minute webinar gives an overview of current research on the topic of standing and adaptive standers as well as specific tips for therapeutic and functional use of Rifton standers.
PT/OT
The Sugar Rush Bakery
November 14, 2017
by Deanne Inkell, DPT
Action-packed days are the norm in the Meadowood Program,- a branch of the Red Clay School District that provides Special Education services. Our goal is to use every opportunity to teach by embedding IEP skills into daily activities. Our student-focused approach supported by our team of therapists, classroom teachers and paraprofessionals follows the Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE)...
Evidence Based Practice
Evidence Update: Children with CP and Home-based Treadmill Programs
September 25, 2017
by Elena Noble, MPT
Motor learning suggests that practice, repetition and task specificity are instrumental to task improvement. Sometimes extending the practice of therapeutic activities beyond the clinical environment and into the home is a great way to apply these principles and reinforce the gains made in the clinic.
Knowing this, I was interested to read a recent study looking at children with cerebral palsy and the...