Cerebral palsy

Evidence Based Practice Prospective cohort studies can inform pediatric physical therapy practice February 04, 2019 by Lori Potts, PT
A young girl with braids and a colorful t-shirt smiles at her caregiver.
The field of pediatric physical therapy has long recognized the difficulty of conducting high level research with the cerebral palsy population. Meeting the qualifications of a randomized controlled trial while implementing interventions with children with multiple physical disabilities – with all their varied daily realities – is extraordinarily difficult. In turn, the systematic review that...
Evidence Based Practice Evidence Update: New Research Suggests Increasing Pediatric Intervention Frequency January 02, 2019 by Elena Noble, MPT
A caregiver steers a child in a blue Rifton Adaptive Tricycle.
Existing evidence on pediatric therapy dosing is scanty and conflicting, though motor learning theory has long associated increased frequency and repetition of movement and skills with improved outcomes. A new study now appears to bolster this view in the context of school-based intervention. The study comes out of Norway, where almost all children with cerebral palsy are registered in CP-specific follow...
News The Meadowood Program: A MOVE Model Site November 12, 2018 by Lori Potts, PT
A girl in a pink dress smiles at her caregiver, while walking in her Rifton Pacer gait trainer.
You’ve heard us talk about MOVE for years, and there’s no question we’re unabashed boosters for this wonderful program. We first ran into Linda Bidabe, MOVE’s founder, in 1988 when her program was in its infancy and we’ve loved it ever since. If you’re not convinced, or if you just want to understand it better, set aside 20 minutes today, pour a cup of coffee, and watch...
PT/OT Homing in on Segmental Trunk Support for Better Control September 27, 2018 by Jocelyn Newell, PT, DPT, MPT
Sydney
While many in the therapy community have not heard (yet) about SATCo, it’s a valuable new assessment that looks at trunk control. SATCo stands for Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control and it is a specific method of determining the level at which an individual loses postural control. We speak of “segmental assessment” because during evaluation we progressively change the level of trunk support at seven distinct levels.
PT/OT It’s Called an Activity Chair for a Reason August 27, 2018 by Lori Potts, PT
A young girl smiles at the camera in a portrait of her in the Rifton Activity Chair.
Recently, Rifton hosted a 2-part webinar on adaptive seating. Part 1: Sitting for Participation: What Does the Research Say? This 30-minute webinar provides an overview of available research on adaptive seating as an intervention in pediatric practice. I summarize research evidence on adaptive seating outcomes including impact on postural control, the use of upper extremities while seated, and head...
PT/OT Our Body, Gravity, and the New Discipline of Posture Care Management August 20, 2018 by Tamara Kittelson Aldred
A caregiver reading a picture book to a young boy sitting in a Rifton Activity Chair.
Twenty-four-hour posture care management is quite new in North America, but its roots go back to the 1980s with foundational work occurring even earlier. Children and adults with dysfunctions of muscle tone, reflexes, muscle weakness and joint contracture have impaired movement and develop adverse postures as a direct consequence of their positioning relative to gravity. These can result in complications...
News Advocacy for Cerebral Palsy June 15, 2018 by Michele Shusterman
A teenage boy walks outside in a Rifton Pacer Gait Trainer while an aid assists him.
Recently, Rifton caught up with Michele Shusterman, mother of Maya and founder/president of CP NOW, a cerebral palsy nonprofit. CP NOW provides educational and support resources to the CP community and funds new research ideas. Although newly formed, CP NOW is gaining recognition and receiving accolades from families, professional organizations and CP centers throughout the US, particularly for their CP...
PT/OT Treadmill Base: A Solution for Gait Practice June 01, 2018 by Lori Potts, PT
A young girl walks on a treadmill with the aid of a Rifton Pacer, while a caregiver gives her instruction.
Body-weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) is widely recognized as a promising intervention to improve ambulation for individuals with neuromotor disability, with diagnoses including cerebral palsy¹, spinal cord...
Stories Great Strides with the Dynamic Rifton Pacer and Treadmill Base May 07, 2018 by Shirley Dzikowski, PT
A client uses the Rifton Pacer to walk on a treadmill.
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
A young client standing and walking with his physical therapist with the aid of a Rifton TRAM.
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...
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