Alternative Therapies
Explanations and Links
KIDPOWER THERAPY PAGES
Several of the KidPower members have used alternative therapies included on this page. We now have started creating the KidPower therapy pages listed below.
Maddy & Botox
An HBO Experience: Kyle & Larissa
Patrick & the Adeli Suit
Jake & HBO
Kyle & Therapeutic Horseback Riding/Hippotherapy
Kyle & TES
ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture--Can relieve pain, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure and more.
Acupuncture.com
Acupuncture Study
Integrative Healing Arts
Adeli Suit--An adapted astronaut 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.
Cerebral Palsy and the Adeli Suit
Cosmonaut Cerebral Palsy Therapy
Euro-Peds
Alexander Technique--A reeducation of the mind and body on how to use the correct amount of effort for each task performed in a day. It helps to relieve tension and can help with ease of movement, coordination, and balance.
The Alexander Technique
The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique
Amino Acid Therapy--use of specially selected combinations of amino acids designed to control the exchange processes in the damaged brain cells.
Aquatic Therapy--Physical & Occupational therapy that is performed in a pool heated to between 92 and 96 degrees. These warm temperatures help to decrease spasticity and along with the buoyancy of the water helps the therapist get the patient into positions that are not tolerable for them during land based therapy. This therapy assists in improving range of motion, cardiovascular endurance, balance, strength, proprioception, tactile stimulation tolerance, relaxation, ambulation and pain management. This therapy can be used along with land-based therapy to best meet a patients needs. Listed below are a few of the indications where aquatic therapy could be utilized:
developmental delay, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, post orthopedic surgery, back pain, Down's Syndrome, PDD, ADD, autism, sensory and vestibular involvement.
A.R.N. Education
Auditory Integration Therapy--"AIT involves several components including some audiological work, behavior analysis and management, educational issues, and after-care counseling for the client and family. The most satisfactory results can be obtained when a multi-disciplinary team approach is used for the administration of the AIT program. SAIT recommends a multi-disciplinary team which could include (but is not limited to) specialists in the fields of audiology, psychology, special education, and speech/language."
Auditory Integration Training
SAIT--Society for Auditory Intervention Techniques
Botox--Botulinum Toxin--Injected into spastic muscles to weaken them. During the period that these muscles are weakened increased therapy helps to reach a greater range of motion and to increase strength in the non-spastic muscles. Helps to decrease scissoring of legs and decrease spasticity even after the Botox injections wear off. Effects are only temporary and injections have to be repeated about every 6 months to a year.
Botulinum Toxin Therapy
Botulinum Toxin Type A
Physician's Skin Solutions
Use of Botulinum-A Toxin in the Management of Muscle Spasticity
Conductive Education--An education system used to develop problem solving skills in people with physical disabilities. Seeks to make it easier for persons to function at their maximum potential in society and teaches them to find their own solutions. Promotes self confidence and motivation.
Ability Camp--Centre for Conductive Education
Beginning Steps to Independence Inc.--San Jose
Conductive Education Information Home Page
Listing of Conductive Education Centers
Moira Centre--Real Conductive Education
CI Therapy--A therapy used for stroke patients consisting of restraining the unaffected arm/hand so the patient is forced to use the affected arm/hand. This is thought to retrain the brain to be able to use the affected hand/arm.
Constraint-induced movement therapy for focal hand dystonia in musicians
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT): Strong Evidence Supportive of the Habit Retraining Model
Constraint-Induced Therapy: Ready for Prime Time?
UAB International Pediatric
Constraint Induced Therapy Clinic
Cranio-Sacral Therapy--Cranialsacral therapy is the evaluation and enhancement of the wave like pulsations of the cerebral spinal fluid. Helps to steady the gait and to properly align the body.
Cranial Sacral Therapy
Dance can help children of all ages and has many rewarding benefits such as:
- 1. increased self esteem
-
2. better motor planning skills
- 3. socialization and group interaction skills
- 4. increased self awareness of personal and surrounding spaces
- 5. and an excellent avenue for also using verbal skills with song and dance!
EEG Biofeedback
--A learning strategy that enables persons to alter their brain waves by making information about their brain wave characteristics available to them so that they can learn to change them. Electrodes attached to the head measure brain wave activity while you move certain muscles. Learn to use certain parts of the brain to move certain muscles.
Biofeedback Certification Institute of America
Cascade Center for Family Growth
Controlled Study of the Effects of EEG Biofeedback on Cognition and Behavior of Children with ADDs and Learning Disabilities
EEG Biofeedback in the Schools
Effects of EEG Biofeedback
Frequently Asked Questions
Future Health, Inc.
For more information on EEG Biofeedback contact:
Pittsburg State University EEG Biofeedback Lab
Hughes Annex
113 Cleveland
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 235-4593
EEG@pittstate.edu
EMG Biofeedback--Used to train alternate cells of the brain that are not damaged to take over the task for damaged ones in brain damage such as stroke, head trauma, and cerebral palsy.
Center for Bladder Control
EMG Biofeedback and Strength Training
EMG & Oral Pharyngeal Dysphagia
How Effective Is EMG Biofeedback
in the Treatment of Incontinence?
For a free information packet about biofeedback call the University of Miami School of Medicine at (305)585-6351
Feldenkrais--"It provides environments for the nervous system to learn through touch and movement and develops sensory awareness to help people recognize habits of movement and posture."
About the Feldenkrais Method
The Feldendrais Guild of North America
Feldenkrais Resources
FES--The principle behind this treatment is to deliver small electrical signals imitating the nerve impulses that have been blocked by brain or spinal cord injury. This therapy can be used with stroke victims, brain and spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
Center for Functional Electrical Stimulation
Efficacy of Neuromuscular Stimulation in Enhancing the Upper Extremity Motor and Functional Recovery of Acute Stroke Survivors
Functional electrical stimulation for limb motor dysfunction
HBO/HBOT--Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy--100% oxygen delivered under increased atmospheric pressure in order to force more oxygen into the bloodstream and all bodily fluids. Thought to repair some of the areas of the brain that were dormant but not totally dead. Has been known to increase responsiveness/alertness and motor/muscle control.
If you would like to receive a packet of information on HBOT
you can contact Mums, 150 Custer Court, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301-1243 or call them at 920-336-5333. The cost for the MUMS information packet is $20.00.
American College of Hyperbaric Medicine
Dr. Harch's Letter on HBO
H.B.O. and Cerebral Investigations In Stroke
HBOT for Developmental Disabilities including RS and CP
HBOT Online
H.O.T. 4 R CP Kids Foundation
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy--Questions & Answers
Listing of HBO Centers
New Uses for HBO
UHMS
Hippotherapy--Therapeutic Horseback Riding--Therapy done while the person is on horseback. Helps with balance and can reduce spasticity. Also is great
Graduate Certificate Program in Hippotherapy
The NARHA
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian
Taking a ride helps learning to walk— Hippotherapy
Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy--Baclofen Pump--used for treatment of severe spasticity. A Baclofen Pump is implanted into the body that delivers a does of Lioresal Intrathecal directly to the spinal cord. It relieves spasticity with low dosages. Low incidence of side effects because the medication does not get into the blood stream.
Inplantable Infusion Pump
IntrathecalBaclofen Overview
Intrathecal Pump Implant ("Spinal Morphine Pump") FAQ’s
Manual Therapy--the therapist puts the muscles into a state of relaxation before stretching begins. They treat both soft tissue and joint structures.
Early American Manual Therapy
North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy
Medek--A physical therapy program for infants and young children. Works on helping to develop the gross motor skills of these children with a rigorous routine of therapy.
These therapy approaches can help teach the brain and body to work together more effeciently.
Bal-A-Vis-X
Ready Bodies, Learning Minds
Music Therapy--the use of music as therapy for the treatment of neurological, mental, or behavioral disorders.
Canadian Association for Music Therapy
Prelude Music Therapy
The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential
The National Academy of Child Development
Neurodevelopmental Therapy
Oral Baclofen--helps alleviate the signs and symptoms of spasticity. Is not effective for everyone.
We Move Baclofen Information
Rolfing--The manipultion of the soft tissues or myofacial system to allow for proper alignment and organization of the whole body in gravity. Helps loosen up spastic muscles and smooths out gait patterns and helps keep the spine aligned.
Frome Physical Therapy
How Does Rolfing Work
Samonas--"Provides a slight massage to certain areas of the middle ear (stapedius and tympanic muscles) opening the systmm to sounds previously shut out or never accessed. If the sounds that are made available to the auditory system are not threatening, then the stimulation of the auditory system and growth in this area and all of the related systems can be achieved. If the sounds are a source of continued irritation or if the system is overstimulated, then these very same sounds can become another source of shutting down of the auditory system. Hence, the use of sound therapy must be done with wisdom and caution, making sure that there are not adverse reactions, at least long term adverse reactions." --taken from "Samonas Sound Therapy" by Kay Ness, Copyright 1999.
Tools For Welness
TES--Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation--is a low level electrical stimulation that does not contract the muscles but is enough to get blood to flow to them in hopes of helping stimulate muscle growth. The electrodes are worn at night during sleep when the body rejuvinates itself the most, in order to get optimum benefit. The electrodes are placed on the atrophied muscles in hopes to get them to grow and counteract the over active spastic muscles or to just get hypotonic muscles to gain strength. A person has to be evaluated by a qualified therapist and approved before they can begin therapy. Patients are followed closely while on the TES and reevaluated at least every six months to mark progress and determine if placement of the electrodes is providing the desired effect.
The TASC Network
First Step Achievements
Innovative Children's Therapy
Therapies 4 Kids
Yoga for the Special Child--Used to stimulate the cognitive and motor development of special needs children.
Copyright 1998-2006 by KidPower Family Support Resource. If you use any information from this site please contact us and credit it as such. Thank you.