PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

What is Special about us?

Any physical therapist can treat patients who lack range of motion, are weak, have poor balance and coordination, or who need assistance with transfers and mobility. But what matters is HOW these issues are treated.,

Our mission is to advance the quality of life and make a profound difference in the outcome of children with brain trauma, cerebral palsy, illness and other neuro-motor disorders. We promote the highest ethical and professional standards in pediatric therapy providing cutting edge therapy to children with physical limitations.

Training, equipment, attitude

1. 1. Specialty training in intensives: therapists able to do prolonged sessions of 4-5 hours and make progress without complete fatigue of the child. Our therapists have had extensive training in intensives in the US and Europe.

 

2. 2. Specialized equipment

 

3.                           a. Pulley system – allows therapist to ISOLATE and strengthen individual muscles and / or muscle groups. No compensation allowed – no cheating by other muscles. Child learns to focus on the specific muscle thereby increasing body awareness. By targeting specific muscles, you can improve and change function – i.e., walk better.

 

4.                          b. Spider cage – aka body-weight-supported-system – allows for the child to be held up by the bungee system to they can: walk on a treadmill; do leg, hip, and trunk, and even arm strengthening in a weight-bearing position. Can do hands-and-knees-, kneeling, sitting, all with the bungees to help stay balanced but not full support they can gain trunk strength too. Also, able to jump, bounce, and fly which are activities most disabled children cannot do and this is VERY FUN for them.

 

5. 3. Orthotic- Specialized soft dynamic orthotic which has bungees that attach to the orthotic to mimic muscles and correct for improper movement. Also adds increased body awareness. The orthotic is worn during exercise and transfers/mobility (roll, crawl, sit, stand, and walk) which helps the child move in “normal” patterns in order to create normal muscle memory and movement patterns so that when the child is out of the orthotic, they can start to move normally.

 

6. 4. Exercises – Specialized exercises to help neurologically engrain normal movement patterns into the child. Also, used to break bad movement patterns such as extensor tone.

 

7. 5. Attitude – Our therapists believe that EVERY child has the right to move on their own. We have never nor will we ever give up on a child. We can teach any child how to move and maximize their potential.

 

No two patients or treatment options are alike, just as no two physical therapists are alike. However, these specialists below all embody several similar traits that make them successful.

Knowledgeable

Our physical therapist requires a commitment to education and training. In 2022 Our therapist attended over 28 Continuing Education Classes totaling 137 credits.

Compassionate

Showing compassion when interacting with patients is an important part of being a great physical therapist. Our kiddos may be struggling with their exercises or meeting their next goal, but our encouraging, kind words and therapy expertise will help guide them and push them forward.

Resourceful

As we said earlier, no two patients are alike. Therefore, no two treatment plans can be alike. To be a great physical therapy clinic, we must be able to customize each treatment plan for each patient.

Durable

Sometimes the “physical” part is the defining quality of being a physical therapist at CIT. Our therapist love being active, healthy and being in good shape and for good reason. Working with your child takes endurance. and this helps keep their patients motivated without tiring.

Starting Intensive Physical Therapy each day:

Hot packs are applied to warm up the muscles and are followed up by stretching and strengthening of the muscles so that they are ready for the start of intensive physical therapy. For children who are more flautists, more stimulatory activities and techniques are performed before the start of their Intensive Therapy session.

Therapeutic Massage –To prepare muscles for stretching and strengthening.

Manual Therapy – Consists of soft tissue and/or joint mobilizations to increase range of motion and prepare the body for movement and exercise.

Stretching and Range of Motion – 30-60 minutes of stretching, active range of motion and resisted range of motion and passive range of motion and active-assisted range of motion, to prepare for the strengthening exercises in the cage.

Strengthening Exercises – Using our special Cage Exercise Unit, we will work on standing, jumping, walking, and stepping all while being connected to fasteners allowing the patient to perform these tasks with normality.

Now that the patient is stretched and massaged, several activities are practiced which include balance, coordination, and functional activities such as head control, rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking.

Balance and Coordination – Utilizing Peanut Balls Wedges and Poland Stander and adaptive bicycles these skills are essential to maintain different positions as well as to be able to move through different positions independently.

Functional Activities Training – Includes activities such as rolling, crawling, kneeling, transfers, standing, stair climbing, etc.

Gait Training – Walking with assistive devices. We are Hart Walker specialists.

Suit Therapy– Creates a breathable orthotic. The TheraSuit is to improve and change proprioception (pressure from the joints, ligaments, muscles), reduce patient’s pathological reflexes, restore physiological muscle synergies (proper patterns of movement) and load the entire body with weight (process similar to a reaction of our muscles to the gravitational forces acting up us for 24 hours). All the above normalizes afferent vestibula-proprioceptive input (information arriving to the vestibular system). The vestibular system is an important center. It processes, integrates, and sends back all the information that arrives from muscles, joints, tendons etc. It influences muscle tone, balance, and the position of the body in space. Suit therapy is typically done for 1-2 hours per day.

We Se​e Patients At Any Age!