By: Lindsey Smith

PHYSICAL THERAPY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

CHILDREN

Thesis

When a person is hurt or disabled, there is no place better than physical therapy to mend his or her disability or injury. The disability, cerebral palsy, is one reason for one to seek therapy.

All About MeThis is me when they first found out I had Cerebral Palsy. My left hand is different from my right.

I have Cerebral Palsy on the left side of my body

All About Me (cont’d)

This is when my mom took me to a place called “the Mark” in Norristown

And I graduated

Audience relevance

Understanding

Supporting

Overview

• PowerPoint• physical therapy• Application• Cerebral palsy

• Conclusion • Class activity

Quick Facts for School

School subjects Biology Chemistry

Skills Helping Teaching

Education level Master’s degree

Salary Range $30,000 to $100,000

Certification of licensing Required

(Ferguson’s 131)

Average People

On average, this is how many people go to physical therapy

(http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2008/sports/images/figure06.gif)

What does Physical therapy mean?

Physical therapy means “treatment with physical agents”

(Krumhansl 1)

In early days therapy meant“the diagnosis and treatment of

disabilities and diseases by the use of physical agents”(Krumhansl 2)

“ the cornerstone of rehabilitation”(krumhansl 2)

(Krumhansl 1,2)

OUTLOOK According to the Occupational Outlook

Handbook, Physical Therapy is:“Physical demanding. Therapists stoop,

knead, crouch, and stand for long periods. Physical therapist move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.”

(Krumhansl 4)

What is Physical Therapy?

a health care profession

a type of medical treatment that helps a person move his or her body.

helps people who have been injured or who have a physical disability such as cerebral palsy

(Ferguson’s 131-132)

A Day in a Physical Therapist's Life:

• On a typical day, a physical therapist will: • examine patients' medical histories; • test and measure the patients• determine patients'• develop treatment plans

http://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt_defined.php

Physical Method Strength-How much weight the muscle can lift

Endurance-How long a person can keep doing an activity

Flexibility-What the range of movement possible

Coordination- How well all of the parts work together

Balance- How steady a person is.

(Hawkins 12)

Physical Therapist

diagnose and treat individualsexamine each individual

health professionals

treat people as young as infants/newborns and as old as great-grandparents

teaches the person exercises

This therapy can strengthen weak muscles.

(Krumhansl 5)

As a patient

Determine a prognosis

Terminate interventions when benefit has been attained

Provide prevention and wellness

Provide services to consult, screen, and educate

(http://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt_defined.php)

As a patient (cont’d)

Examination to include performing tests and measures.

Perform evaluations

Establish a diagnosis

(http://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt_defined.php)

Physical therapists might guide kids through:

developmental activities such as crawling and walking

weightlifting to build strength around an injury

flexibility exercises to increase range of motion

balance and coordination activities

adaptive play

(http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/phys_therapy.html#)

Physical therapists might guide kids through (cont’d):

aquatic (water) therapy

safety and prevention programs

instruction on how to avoid injuries

improving circulation around injuries by using heat, cold, exercise, electrical stimulation, massage, and ultrasound

(http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/phys_therapy.html#)

History

Modern-day profession of physical therapy is the product of war and epidemic disease › Not enough doctors to care for all the

wounded soldiers and victims at the start of the 20th century

A professional association was organized in 1921

It has expanded beyond hospitals

(Ferguson’s 131, 132)(Hawkins 2,3,4)

Today’s History

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has 75,000 members

There are 200 University Programs for PTs

There are 120,000 Licensed PTs› Including members and non-members of

the APTA

(Hawkins 3,4)

Choosing a Career

Physical therapists work one-on-one It is a commitment to help people

› regain› improve› maintain their ability to move

They are not Physicians

(Hawkins 4,5 )

Employment

Physical therapists held about 185,500 jobs in 2008

About 60 percent of Physical Therapists worked in hospitals or in offices of other health practitioners

(http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm)

How much do Physical therapist make?

On average this is how much they make

(http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Physical_Therapist_%28PT%29/Salary)

Where do PTs work? Physical

therapists may practice in hospitals, clinics, private offices, private homes, or schools.

(http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm)

Benefits of Physical Therapy

Sports Related Injuries Chronic Diseases such as

Arthritis \ Surgery Issues Balance or Mobility Problems Sprains and Muscle Injuries Lower back Problems Cerebral Palsy

(http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html)

One main reason to go to Therapy

Joint pain and dysfunction are among the most common medical problems in the world.

(http://www.physicaltherapy.com/about_pt.php)

"I want to prove that handicapped people are not dumb or stupid, like some people think we are."

http://www.disabilityworld.org/01-02_01/resources/quotes.htm

Application

For my application I had an event called the Physical therapy Obstacle courseThe obstacle course was with the

disabled kids through out the high school, middle school, and elementary schools

I organized the whole thing with help from Mr. Taylor-storm, Mrs. Cambollo, Mrs. Egan, and Mr. Armenio

Cerebral Palsy

Most common physical disability in children

Group of chronic movement or posture disorders

“Cerebral” refers to the brain “Palsy” refers to a physical disorder

(http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/cerebral_palsy.html#)

Overview of CP

CP is an umbrella term for a group of disorders affecting› Body movement› Balance› Posture

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/article_em.htm#Cerebral%20Palsy%20Overview

CP

CP is caused by abnormal development or damage in one or more parts of the brain

Infants with CP are usually slow

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/article_em.htm#Cerebral%20Palsy%20Overview

Cerebral Palsy

CP may involve › muscle stiffness› Poor muscle tone › Uncontrolled

movements

› Problems with: Posture Balnace Coordination Walking Speech Swallowing

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/article_em.htm#Cerebral%20Palsy%20Overview

Functions:

Mental Retardation Seizures Breathing problems Learning disability Bladder problems Eating difficulties Hearing and vision

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/article_em.htm#Cerebral%20Palsy%20Overview

Individuals with CP Individuals with CP have normal or

above average intelligence Their ability to express their

intelligence may be limited by difficulties in communicating

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/article_em.htm#Cerebral%20Palsy%20Overview

Symptoms Can be very mild or very severe Can only involve one side of the body

or both sides Can be more pronounced in either the

arms or legs, or involve both the arms and legs

The signs of cerebral palsy are usually not noticeable in early infancy but become more obvious as the child’s nervous system matures

(http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html)

Types of CP

Spastic diplegia Spastic hemiplegia Spastic quadriplegia Congenital Cerebral Palsy Mixed Cerebral Palsy Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy Ataxic Cerebral Palsy Athetoid Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

(http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html)

Causes

About 10 to 20 percent of children who have Cerebral Palsy acquire the disorder after birth

look at risk factors

the symptoms

the mother’s and child’s medical history, and the onset of the disorder.

(http://kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/people/physical_therapy.html)

Cause (cont’d)

Damage may occur early in Pregnancy when the brain is just starting to form. Or after birth in the first few years of life

In fact, current thinking is that at least 70-80% of cases of cerebral palsy begin before birth

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/page2_em.htm

Treatment

There is no cure for cerebral palsy A treatment may work for one child but

not for another. The parents and the child’s care team

work together to choose only those treatments that offer some benefit to the child.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/page6_em.htm

Medical treatment

Rehabilitation: A comprehensive rehabilitation program may include: physical therapy use of special equipment spasticity treatment This program is often overseen by a

specialist in rehabilitation medicine

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/page7_em.htm

Physical Therapy with CP

Walking Using a wheelchair Using a walker or braces Standing Climbing stairs Using gross motor skills and balance to

kick and throw a ball or ride a bike

(http://kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/people/physical_therapy.html)

Physical Therapy With CP learn better ways to move and balance learn to walk go up and down stairs safely running Kicking throwing learning to ride a bike

(http://www.originsofcerebralpalsy.com/05-treatment/04-physicaltheraphy.html)

Physical Therapy with CP

one of the most important aspects of cerebral palsy therapy

first referral made in a Cerebral Palsied child’s treatment › Designs› modifies

orders adaptive equipment

(http://www.originsofcerebralpalsy.com/05-treatment/04-physicaltheraphy.html)

Children who have CP

Approximately 500,000 people in this country have some degree of Cerebral Palsy

(http://repairstemcell.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/cerebralpalsy.jpg)(Hawkins 3)

Children with CP

Cerebral Palsy is not a disease. It is from damages from parts of the

brain. A kid with CP has trouble controlling

the muscles of the body. A kid with CP can have a mild case or

a more severe case.

(http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/cerebral_palsy.html#)

Surgery

Dorsal rhizotomy Implantation of a baclofen pump Stereotactic surgery Reconstructive surgery Skeletal problems Severe spasticity

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/page11_em.htm

outlook

Approximately 25% of children with cerebral palsy have mild involvement with few or no limitations in walking, self-care, and other activities

Only 25% are so severely disabled that they require extensive care and are unable to walk.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/page13_em.htm#Outlook

Follow up

the overall goal for ongoing care of individuals with CP is to help them reach their full physical, mental, and emotional potential.

Children with CP require regular sessions with their physical, occupational, and speech/language therapists

frequent check-ups with their medical and surgical teams..http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/page11_em.htm

Conclusion

I learned more about Physical therapy I also learned a lot about my disability

My project has changed me because I am going to live my life the way I want to not anybody else

Work Cited

Cerebral Palsy Source . N.p., 2005. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. Hawkins, Trisha. Careers in Physical Therapy. New York: Rosen

Publishing Groups, Inc, 2001. Killilea, Marie. Karen. N.p.: n.p., 1952. Print. Krumhansl, Bernice. Opportunities in Physical Therapy Careers.

Lincolnwood: VGM Career Horizon, 2000. Mairs, Nancy. Waist-High In The World. Boston: Beacon Press

Books, 1996. Moe, Barbara. Careers in Sports Medicine. New York: Rosen

Publishing Group, Inc, 2002. Strelecky, David. Careers in Focus. New York : Facts On File, Inc,

2003 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational

Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Physical Therapists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm

Work Cited Cont’d

http://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/physical-therapy/what-can-physical-therapy-do-me-0

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/detail_cerebral_palsy.htm

http://www.cerebralpalsysource.com/Treatment_and_Therapy/index.html

http://www.freewebs.com/cerebral-palsy/treatment.html http://www.cerebral-palsy-injury.com/treatment-of-cerebral-

palsy.html http://www.cerebralpalsysource.com/Types_of_CP/spastic_cp/

index.html http://www.indianchild.com/CerebralPalsy/spastic-cerebral-

palsy.htm

Work Cited Cont’d

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-physical-therapy.htm http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/medical_care/pt.html http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/back_pain/

hic_what_can_physical_therapy_do_for_your_back_and_neck_pain.aspx

https://health.google.com/health/ref/Epilepsy http://www.epilepsyontario.org/client/EO/EOWeb.nsf/web/

Seizures+&+Cerebral+Palsy http://www.epilepsy.com/info/family_kids_cpalsey

Class activity

For my class activity we are going carry a wooden egg on a wooden spoon from one end of the room to the other