Patrick & the Adeli Suit

What is the Adeli Suit?
An adapted Russian cosmonaut space suit designed to put the body in proper alignment and to provide feedback between the muscles and the brain. Several children have taken their first unassisted steps after undergoing this therapy.

Details of Therapy:
Therapy starts at 8:00 am with water massage (20 min)

Next station: spider cage: 20 min in a hip belt with four rubber strings attached to the walls of the cage in an appropriate height: training of knee-bends, standing on one foot, lifting legs forward and backwards etc. with a therapist.

Patrick's workout in the spider (a hip belt with 4 rubber bands connected to the cage, workout was standing up, standing on one leg etc.) he used to "fly" a few minutes (picture)- that was fun!

Next station: "Lasso cage": lying on a bed, ropes are attached to the legs and first gravity is been counteracted and then with another rope and roll weigths (1-3 Kg) are put on certain muscles which he has to lift by bending, stretching, etc. 20 min

In the "lasso-cage" Patrick has to lift weights connected to a specific muscle group by ropes and pulleys. His body and left leg are fixed by a band and sandbag (leg).

Next station: Electroaccupuncture (25 min, russian Dr.)

Next station: Training chair: with his left and right leg he has to lift a certain weight and extend the knees 30 times each leg

Next station: "Magnetic bed" 15 min

Next station: 30 min in a stander with hand training (extending rubber bands)

Next station: Hot or cold gel packs (20 min) on affected legs and/or arms

Final station: 2 hours in the suit with two skilled therapists who know exactly what they are doing. They name you each muscle which they are training with a certain exercise. First massage and stretching, then 10 min for putting on the suit and adjusting the rubber bands, then hard workout gymnastics in the suit which makes every movement about 3 times harder than without the suit. Up to 30 rubber bands surround the kid. Muscle bending, standing, walking in the aisles up and down the stairs and around in the therapy room. Lying with the suit on large ball on the belly and then move the legs arms etc. Exercises on the floor (mattress) and at a wall ladder. Exact physiological standing, walking or crawling positions are extremely important to the therapists.

Patrick walking without crutches in the Adeli suit (his first steps alone). In the suit Patrick is very concentrated to keep his balance. His involved left arm is in a splint to keep it straight. Workout in the suit is not only walking but many other PT exercises.

End: 2:00 pm ... exhausted.

He also gets "homework" to do outside therapy hours: chin on chest exercises, special arm exercising, squeeze the butt together, walk stairs etc. 2 x per week in the afternoon they have play hours where the kids can draw, glue, work with paper and other toys - but always with a therapeutic background to train e.g. hand/finger control etc. One afternoon there is an hour of music therapy. From 4-5 pm and 7-8 pm the swimming pool can be used. 6 days therapy, Sunday rest.

This is the most extensive physical therapy I have ever seen - and it works (at least for Patrick). My son was in Poland for his 2. therapy block in March. It works. Most effective PT for children with CP in my opinion. Motivation of the child is extremely important. Some therapist speak english, interpreters available.

Physician Involvement
The children are seen by three doctors, one neurophysiologist, a child's doctor and an orthopaedist who notes prior/post motoric achievements. 24 hour nurse in the hotel. If children get sick the doctor takes care for it and gives you the neccessary prescriptions (Patrick was treated for bad cold with antibiotics + the usual stuff)

Lodging
Lodging is of medium quality, rooms and furniture in some rooms are somewhat worn out, not too clean, TV and radio, a fridge and phone in the room. Either one or two rooms with bathroom and a french bed and a sofa (convertible) or two beds. Rooms are with or without balcony. Towels, blankets,sheets, glasses, cups, plates, knifes, forks and spoons, water heater etc. are provided. Child seat in the shower. Free washing machines. Dryinglines in the bathroom. Gymnastics and workout rooms for parents. Childrens playground on the site. E-mails sent to Euromed are being distributed to the respective addressee.150 m to beach.

Full board (polish) i.e. breakfast: tea or instant coffee for breakfast , bread toast and rolls(bad), butter, cereals with milk, joghurts, fruits, cheese or sausage or ham, jam or marmelade lunch: soup (often poatato- or cabbage-), meat or fish, always mashed potatoes as a side, sometimes salad, sauerkraut or cabbage

dinner: sometimes appealing (noodles with sauce - perfect for Patrick), sometimes not. Summary: One can live for 4 weeks with this food, Americans often go out on weekends to eat pizza or see McDonalds (where I have my doubts whether this really is an alternative). Good restaurant at the beach in Mielno. Extra person with full board Szloty 70.-/day (price has changed)

For more information see the following sites:
Euromed Rehabilitation Center
UCP Adeli Suit Information
Cosmonaut Cerebral Palsy Suit
Adeli Suit
Adeli Project
A Step to Faith
Poland: Space Suit Technology Offers New Hope for Cerebral Palsy Rehab
Therasuit
A Step Up

or email Stefan at SEP.Kelbch@t-online.de

Copyright 1999-2005 by KidPower Family Support Resource. Do not use any of the information from this page. This page was made exclusively for KidPower. Stefan contributed all the information about Patrick and the Adeli Suit therapy and is the sole owner of the content. Thank you.

Last updated 6/2/01