More and more people are talking about brain problems and cures, for everything from football to soldiers returning from the battlefield. The attention is great, and now new treatments are being discussed that may help people recover. One new idea is known as Neurodevelopmental Therapy (or NDT). This can be used in a variety of therapeutic disciplines, including pediatric physical therapy.
Basically, Neurodevelopmental Therapy is a way to look at issues on a targeted, individual level. Physical therapists use hands-on techniques and high-tech tools to guide patients through functional tasks. For example, think of a child with neurological problems who is unable to stand due to the health problem might set small goals. One might be lifting the feet from the footrest on a wheelchair using the patient's own strength. The physical therapist would help the patient hands-on.
Neurodevelopmental Therapy is patient-driven, because they have to set goals. For kids with disabilities, goals may be set by the parents. For grown-ups dealing with issues like stroke or TIB, the goal could involve walking, standing and more. Some physical therapists who try these methods say that a patient's ideas about their treatment makes a huge difference in their healing processes.
Beyond the fact that sessions are encouraging, Neurodevelopmental Therapy truly works. Physical therapists say their patients need less help and fewer devices while achieving an improvement in proper positioning. Goals can be set, and reached, in a variety of functions.
For kids with disabilities, pediatric physical therapists can use Neurodevelopmental Therapy to help them be less dependent. They can learn to support themselves, learning to climb stairs, or even stand up without help. Experts believe that some improvement is possible for almost all people, even those with severe disabilities.
The research about Neurodevelopmental Therapy isn't very exhaustive, but the subject isn't hotly contested, either. Many of the studies have been done on small groups of patients, so aren't widely generalizable. But the ideas are pretty commonsense and a growing number of pediatric physical therapists and other specialists have adopted its techniques.
If you need help with mobility, function or even speech and language, consider finding a aspergers symptoms San Diego, CA expert in your area.