PT/OT
Treadmill Base: A Solution for Gait Practice
June 01, 2018
by Lori Potts, PT
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...
Evidence Based Practice
Don’t Be Afraid of Early Mobilization in Acute Brain Injury
February 20, 2018
by Mary Beth Osborne, PT, DPT, NCS
This article was originally written for Medbridge and is shared here with permission.
People who suffer brain injuries require extensive medical care to preserve vital organ functions and prevent secondary injury. Physical therapists are in a unique position to positively influence the ultimate outcome for these individuals by simply providing early mobilization.
Two studies provide support for early...
Evidence Based Practice
Don’t Skimp on Good Design and Quality
January 30, 2018
by Lori Potts, PT
Does the quality of an individual’s mobility device influence their participation? Common sense tells us it would, but do we find research to back that up? Thankfully, yes. Today’s post highlights the work of a research team that implemented a two-day assessment with 604 community-dwelling adults with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.
Of these, 250 people (41%) self...
Evidence Based Practice
Improving Gait in Chronic TBI with Motor Learning Strategies
July 25, 2017
by Elena Noble, MPT
Long-term disability is a frequent sequel of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and takes the form of persisting motor impairments that impact walking and autonomous movement. So to improve environmental negotiation and basic care skills, independent gait is an essential therapy goal for TBI patients.
Literature shows that the best time for independent gait recovery occurs within the first few...
PT/OT
Creative Mobility Technology for Improved Outcomes
July 03, 2017
by Elena Noble, MPT
I recently attended the APTA Next Conference in Boston. A new component to this conference is the experience zone—an education space in the exhibit hall allowing presenters to draw on resources from the show floor as part of their presentations. A great idea. I attended a course called “Creative Mobility Technology for Improved Outcomes” in the zone.
Here we learned to get the most...
PT/OT
Evidence Update: Supported Standing Protocols
December 07, 2015
by Elena Noble, MPT
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...
PT/OT
The New Rifton Pacer Gait Trainer, So Much More Than a Walker
November 24, 2015
by Lori Potts, PT
Often parents of children with disabilities – and adults who have incurred serious injuries – seek out walkers to enable better mobility and walking practice. While walkers have their place in rehabilitation, these very basic support devices offer very little when compared to gait trainers – and even less when compared to the new Rifton Pacer gait trainer.
What’s so special...
PT/OT
Great Outcomes for Adults Who Need Gait Assistance
September 14, 2015
by Elena Noble, MPT
For children with complex disabilities the transition from school to adult services can be brutal: therapy and equipment that is considered standard in the school suddenly disappears, funding evaporates, and families struggle to bridge the gap. But this is slowly changing. Many healthcare facilities now try to provide a seamless transition into this new stage of life with specialized and comprehensive...
Stories
Great Strides with the Rifton TRAM
March 12, 2015
by Cathy Ripmaster, MSPT
A few years ago we welcomed a non-traditional student – we’ll call him Jay – at Lincoln Developmental Center (LDC) where we work. Most of our students have had a development disorder since birth; most are undersized and fit well into traditional equipment, but Jay sustained a traumatic brain injury at the age of 14 and arrived at LDC at the age of 17, fully grown, with limited positioning...