March is Cerebral Palsy month! In this week of TOC Talks, Andrew sits down with Alicia Hisey, a Doctor of Physical Therapy at The Oxford Center, to talk about Physical Therapy. Together, they dive into Intensive Physical Therapy, TheraSuit therapy, and what exactly these have to do with Cerebral Palsy! We do things just a little differently here at The Oxford Center, so make sure you listen closely to see what that is!
Check It Out!
Want to see more about Gracie’s journey with Cerebral Palsy and Intensive Physical Therapy? Check out her YouTube channel below!
Check out our episode and don’t forget to subscribe to TOC Talks! We can be found on all your favorite Audio or Podcast platforms as well as video podcasts on our YouTube and Facebook pages! Find us at the links below!
Want to stay connected and up to date on what is happening at The Oxford Center? Make sure to follow our Social Media Pages! If you would like to find our TOC Talks Podcast page, click on the link below.
Individuals with Cerebral Palsy often benefit from physical therapy and intensive physical therapy. However, traditional physical therapy may not always be effective enough to meet the complex needs of individuals with Cerebral Palsy. This is where the TheraSuit Method comes in. Developed in the 1990s by a Polish physical therapist named Izabela Koscielny, the TheraSuit Method is a type of physical therapy that uses a specialized suit to provide support, resistance, and feedback to the muscles. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the TheraSuit Method, how it works, and its potential benefits for patients with Cerebral Palsy.
What is the TheraSuit Method?
The TheraSuit Method is a type of physical therapy that involves the use of a specialized suit, known as the TheraSuit. The suit is designed to support the body and align the joints, while providing resistance and feedback to the muscles.
During a TheraSuit session, the patient wears the suit and performs exercises and activities under the guidance of a trained therapist. The suit provides support and helps to activate and strengthen the muscles, while the therapist provides feedback and adjusts the exercises to meet the patient’s individual needs.
The History of the TheraSuit
The TheraSuit was developed in the 1990s by a Polish physical therapist named Izabela Koscielny. Koscielny was working with children with Cerebral Palsy and other neurological conditions and found that traditional physical therapy approaches were not effective enough to meet the complex needs of her patients.
She began experimenting with a suit made of elastic materials that would provide support and resistance to the body, while also allowing for freedom of movement. Over time, she refined the suit’s design and developed a set of exercises and activities that could be used with it.
In 2002, Koscielny opened the first TheraSuit clinic in Poland, where she began using the method with her patients. The success of her approach quickly gained attention, and soon therapists around the world began using the TheraSuit method in their own practices.
Since then, the TheraSuit method has continued to evolve, with new variations of the suit and new exercises and techniques being developed. Today, it is a widely recognized and respected approach to physical therapy for children and adults with neurological conditions.
How Does it Work?
When a patient wears the TheraSuit, the elastic materials provide a gentle but constant pressure on the body, which helps to align the joints and support the muscles. The suit also provides resistance to movement, which helps to activate and strengthen the muscles.
During a TheraSuit session, a trained physical therapist guides the patient through a series of exercises and activities that target the patient’s individual needs and goals. The therapist may use various tools and techniques to help the patient achieve the desired movements and positions, such as balance boards, resistance bands, and therapy balls.
The TheraSuit method is based on the concept of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself in response to new experiences and stimuli. By providing a supportive and stimulating environment for the body, the TheraSuit method aims to promote neuroplasticity and help the patient improve their motor function, balance, coordination, and overall quality of life.
Overall, the TheraSuit method is a comprehensive approach to physical therapy that combines the use of specialized equipment with targeted exercises and activities to help patients achieve their individual goals and improve their overall function and mobility.
What are the Benefits?
The TheraSuit Method offers several potential benefits for patients with neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injuries, and stroke. These benefits include:
Improved strength and muscle function: The TheraSuit provides resistance and feedback to the muscles, helping to activate and strengthen them. This can lead to improved muscle tone, coordination, and overall physical function.
Enhanced balance and stability: By providing support and alignment to the body, the TheraSuit can help patients improve their balance and stability, reducing the risk of falls and other accidents.
Increased range of motion: The TheraSuit allows for freedom of movement while also providing support and resistance, which can help patients improve their range of motion in various joints and muscles.
Improved sensory processing: The TheraSuit can help patients improve their sensory processing skills, which can lead to better awareness of their body and surroundings.
Enhanced cognitive and social skills: By engaging in physical therapy activities in a supportive and stimulating environment, patients may also experience improvements in their cognitive and social skills.
Improved quality of life: The TheraSuit method aims to improve overall physical function and mobility, which can lead to a better quality of life for patients and their families.
How Does it Help Cerebral Palsy?
The TheraSuit method is a form of therapy that can help individuals with Cerebral Palsy by promoting proper muscle function and control. The method involves a specialized suit worn by the individual, providing sensory and proprioceptive feedback to the muscles. This helps to improve body awareness, balance, and coordination.
During TheraSuit therapy, the individual will typically participate in a variety of exercises and activities tailored to their specific needs and goals. This may include exercises to strengthen weak muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance overall movement patterns. By working to address the underlying causes of Cerebral Palsy symptoms, the TheraSuit method can help individuals to achieve greater independence and a higher quality of life.
The TheraSuit Method at The Oxford Center
The Oxford Center is proud to offer the TheraSuit Method to our clients. Like many centers around the world, The Oxford Center is overjoyed every day by the promise the TheraSuit Method holds. In our center, we have seen children take their first steps and learn to walk using the TheraSuit. Other clients have progressed farther than we could have ever hoped and the TheraSuit continues to help children and adults every day reach their goals when they may have given up hope.
Interested in learning more about the TheraSuit Method at The Oxford Center? Click the button to learn more and contact us at 248-486-3636.
March is Cerebral Palsy month! This week we discuss what Cerebral Palsy is, a parent’s journey through diagnosing her child with Cerebral Palsy, and what ALTERNATIVE treatments are out there! In this episode of TOC Talks our host sits down with Emily Kistner, a registered nurse at The Oxford Center and mother to a daughter with Cerebral Palsy, to talk about Cerebral Palsy and how The Oxford Center gave her hope back when it was lost!
Check It Out!
Want to see more about Gracie’s journey with Cerebral Palsy? Check out her YouTube channel below!
Check out our episode and don’t forget to subscribe to TOC Talks! We can be found on all your favorite Audio or Podcast platforms as well as video podcasts on our YouTube and Facebook pages! Find us at the links below!
Want to stay connected and up to date on what is happening at The Oxford Center? Make sure to follow our Social Media Pages! If you would like to find our TOC Talks Podcast page, click on the link below.
Welcome to CP Awareness month! CP stands for Cerebral Palsy, and all of March is dedicated to raising awareness about this condition, so The Oxford Center is going to join in this endeavor. Many of us may have a family member or know someone with Cerebral Palsy, but we might not actually know much about the condition. Thankfully, The Oxford Center is here to help you learn more and raise awareness about this condition!
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder that affects movement, posture, and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to the developing brain, which can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or early childhood. At this point, Cerebral Palsy affects roughly 1 in 500 children worldwide, and its severity can vary widely from person to person.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy can vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Specifically, some common symptoms include poor muscle control, difficulty with balance and coordination, spasticity or stiffness in the muscles, and tremors or involuntary movements. Other symptoms may include difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning clothes, difficulty with speech and swallowing, and intellectual disabilities.
Treatment Options
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but there are several treatment options that can help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. Physical therapy and occupational therapy are often recommended to help with muscle strength and mobility, as well as to help with daily activities such as dressing and feeding. Speech therapy can also help with communication and swallowing difficulties.
The Oxford Center
Just like every person is different, every child has different needs and therapies that will work best for them. Here at The Oxford Center, we offer a number of therapies that can help improve symptoms related to a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. I.e. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Neurofeedback Therapy, Intensive Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy Occupational Therapy, and our Functional Nutrition Therapy Practitioner. This integrative approach allows every individual with Cerebral palsy to get the therapies they need. No matter what needs you or your child may have, The Oxford Center is here to help!
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Finally, one treatment option that has gained attention in recent years is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). HBOT utilizes 100% medical grade vaporized oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure which increases the oxygen in the bloodstream and tissues. The research behind using HBOT for Cerebral Palsy shows that the increased oxygen supply helps to reduce inflammation, promotes the growth of new blood vessels, and increases circulating stem cells, which heals and repairs damaged tissue throughout the body and brain and can improve the symptoms associated with Cerebral Palsy.
Overall, while there is no cure for Cerebral Palsy, there are many treatment options available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. It is important for individuals with Cerebral Palsy to work closely with a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, therapists, and specialists, to tailor a treatment plan to their specific needs and goals.
Intensive Physical Therapy
Intensive Physical Therapy is five days per week for three hours each day. The main goal is to achieve maximum functional improvement. It includes exercises to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Our Physical Therapists will use advanced techniques that have been proven to be effective in improving muscle strength, reducing spasticity, and enhancing the patient’s ability to perform daily activities. Finally, combined with our daily intensive program, Suit Therapy can accelerate the development of new motor skills that strengthen muscles and teach the brain and body how to sit, stand, and walk.
If you know someone living with Cerebral Palsy, call the Oxford Center to find out how we can help. Call us at 248-486-3636 to schedule a FREE consultation with one of our nurses to learn more about our therapies and how they can help you on your journey.
What is a Discovery Session, and why do I need one?
The purpose of the Discovery Session is for one of our team members to better understand your situation and what your journey has been like so far. From there, our team member can discuss COMPASS in more detail and how it can help give you success in your next states of meaningful employment.
Please fill out the form below if you would like our staff to contact you, answer your questions, or get you scheduled for a free Discovery Session.
