NDT Training Courses Online: Overview NDT training online with Atlas offers the most affordable way to take the classroom portion for the NDT disciplines that we provide. These classes can be taken anywhere and at any time. There is no need to miss work to acquire the classroom training hours and testing. Jan 13, 2020 The FitMi home exercise program motivates users to achieve 23 times more repetition than a traditional therapy session because it’s more fun and engaging. This high repetition helps stroke survivors achieve faster results and get back to walking, driving, and cooking again. Physical activity is key to recovery.
Neurodevelopmental Treatment for kids with learning disabilities is offered by various practitioners. Many claim NDT is a panacea for all learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, attention deficits, Down Syndrome, etc.
There is certainly scientific evidence that the brain is developing from birth throughout the teen years, and evidence increasingly shows that brain plasticity allows people to overcome neurological damage in surprising ways. Although kids with learning disabilities don’t have neurological “damage,” they do have neurological deficits that can be strengthened.
Additionally, when we were first seeking solutions to my son’s learning difficulties, we were told children with dyslexia often never crawl–as this WAS the case with my child who had severe dyslexia. He always did this hoppy-scootching thing on all fours rather than crawling. My son walked at 10 months having never crawled right, and he exhibited difficulties with gross body skills such as running and kicking a ball, running to catch a ball, etc.
I had read a lot about cross-body patterning after we were told that tennis, karate, gymnastics or swimming would be good for my son’s neurological development.
From the ages eight through fourteen, my son swam on a swim team. Likewise, he spent six years kayaking from age eleven through seventeen, spending many seasons in a developmental sprint kayaking program. The three years of overlap, ages 11-14, were the first three years of homeschooling when my son’s reading level went from a kindergarten level to college level reading skill. Was it the neurodevelopmental activity that caused his reading skill to advance?
Given what I know about dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other learning disabilities, I found myself skeptical that neurodevelopmental treatment alone could help a child overcome learning disabilities, but I could not discount the fact that my son was engaged in activities that involved intensive cross-body patterning for a span of nine years.
While my son was involved in neurodevelopmental cross-body patterning types of activities at a very intense level, particularly for the middle three years, we also undertook a purposeful, intensive, Orton-Gillingham-based reading program, which I attribute most strongly with his reading improvement. You can see more about our academic program for overcoming dyslexia at “How we remediated dyslexia.”
Thus, given recent ‘sales pitches’ regarding Neurodevelopmental Training to overcome dyslexia shared with me, I decided to go read research papers to find out if neurodevelopmental treatment is effective as a means for remediating learning disabilities.
Here’s what I found:
“Overall, the results regarding the efficacy of NDT were largely inconclusive since there were a similar number of published research studies supporting the benefit of NDT intervention (n=6) as compared with no benefit (n=9). One study did not specifically address the efficacy of NDT, while another study was unclear as to whether or not NDT was beneficial.
The studies that included the use of NDT with paediatric subjects diagnosed with cerebral palsy also had inconsistent results regarding the efficacy of NDT. The studies that included the use of NDT with high-risk/low-birthweight infants did not support the usefulness of NDT with this paediatric client group.” (Brown G.T.; Burns S.A., (2001) The Efficacy of Neurodevelopmental Treatment in Paediatrics: a Systematic Review. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, Volume 64, Number 5, 1 May 2001 , pp. 235-244(10))
“The research purporting to show efficacy of the treatment does not show sustained gains in literacy scores in treated vs. control children. Furthermore, the intervention has not been evaluated on the clinical groups for which it is recommended.” “Overall, family doctors and paediatricians need to be aware that the published evidence does not support the claims of a ‘Miracle Cure’: on the contrary, the data from comparisons of treated and control groups lead to considerable scepticism that the intervention improves anything other than those skills that are trained in the exercises.” (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835859/)
While the research does not show neurodevelopmental treatment alone to be an effective means of remediating learning disabilities, research does show it to be an effective means of treating gross motor and fine motor difficulties. Thus, neurodevelopmental treatment could benefit children who have neurodevelopmental delays, but it won’t automatically enable the child to overcome learning disabilities without a proven academic program to address the learning that needs to take place. Research was supportive of neurodevelopmental treatment for children with significant neurological impairments as follows:
“This study examined the effect of neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) and differences in its intensity on gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were 34 children (12 females, 22 males; mean age 7y 3mo [SD 3y 6mo], age range 3 to 14y) with mild to moderate spasticity and hemiplegia (n=10), diplegia (n=12), and tetraplegia (n=12). Gross Motor Function Classification System levels were: I (n=10), II (n=10), and III (n=14). The paired sample, which was obtained by ratio stratification and matching by sex, age, and distribution of impairment from a total of 114 children with CP, was assigned randomly to two groups: group A underwent NDT twice a week and group B five times a week for 16 weeks. The outcome measure used was the Gross Motor Function Measure, which assessed the performance of the children before and after intervention. The paired-sample t-test revealed that gross motor function of children from both groups improved significantly after intervention (p<0.05). Children in group B performed better and showed significantly greater improvement than those in group A (p<0.05). Results support the effectiveness of NDT and underline the need for intensive application of the treatment.” &Child Neurology, 46: 740–745. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2004.tb00993.x)
That said, I do think neurodevelopmental treatment exercises can help with learning disabilities by enhancing alertness. The exercise-based increase in oxygen to the brain will help the child focus on the learning task for a period of time. Thus, I don’t think there is harm in undertaking neurodevelopmental treatment, but it should not be used alone as the only form of addressing a child’s learning disability. Appropriate and proven programs should be used in addition to neurodevelopmental treatment if NDT is going to be used at all. For example, a child with true phonemically-based dyslexia requires remediation with a proven reading program. He may also have Neurodevelopmental treatment alongside the reading program to provide the maximum amount of possible learning benefit, but NDT should not be used as the only program provided or sufficient learning to overcome a reading disability will likely not occur.
06.04.2018
Tools to Grow is pleased to present Kim Cassidy, Physical Therapist, who has the perfect solution to help the children in your life develop and strengthen their core and proximal stability. Kim will discuss her expertise in creating home exercise programs and introduce our new Strengthening Exercise Cards, Posters, Documentation, and Home Program. We are very thankful for Kim’s dedication and passion towards child development.
My name is Kim Cassidy and I have the honor of working as the Director of Physical Therapy for Tools to Grow Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy. I come to Tools to Grow Therapy with over 20 years of pediatric PT experience. Although I hold a full-time position working in a public school district in Western New York, I have never been able to give up my “extra” jobs working for agencies that provide Home and Community therapy services for Early Intervention and Preschool students. It allows me the opportunity to work with kids and their families at the earliest stages of development, where I feel I can have the greatest impact. I am beyond excited about my new role at Tools to Grow Therapy and happy to share with you the exercise programs that I have developed and implemented over the years with students of all ages.
In my years as a pediatric physical therapist I have found that EVERY student that I work with benefits from further developing their core and proximal strength. A strong “core” facilitates improved posture and offers a more stable base for higher level balance skills and coordinated movement of one’s arms and legs.
What is Muscle Strength & Why is it Important?
Muscle strength refers to the amount of force that a child’s muscle generates to support their joints, hold their body in upright postures, and move against gravity. Infants and young children develop muscle strength when playing in and transitioning between developmental positions such as prone, hands and knees, kneeling, and standing, and during motor play (climbing, jumping, stepping up /down, squatting and standing, running, lifting, and carrying toys).
The following strengthening exercises are to be used by therapists to further develop muscle strength and improve proximal stability (stability of the joints closest to the body such as the shoulder girdle and the hip joint) thus providing the support needed for optimal postural alignment and endurance, improved balance, and age appropriate motor coordination.
Increased shoulder stability and upper extremity strength provides a foundation for increased hand strength and improved fine motor control and precision. Improved hip stability and lower extremity strength provides a foundation for controlled transitions into and out of positions, efficient gait, and improved mobility skills (running, jumping, hopping, and climbing).
The way that children develop physically has changed with the always evolving infant and toddler positioning/seating options available. As a pediatric physical therapist, I clearly see the effects of this. Babies spend more time positioned in seating that offers them full support. From car seats and body slings to bouncy seats and swings, they simply do not spend as much time on a blanket on the floor as they used to. This adversely affects early development of the trunk muscles and muscles that surround the hips and shoulders. When these muscles do not develop sufficiently, children develop compensatory postures and movement patterns to accommodate for decreased strength and stability.
Exercise Programs
I strive to make PT sessions fun for the kids that I work with. I use positioning during game play and movement challenges (climbing, running, jumping, navigating obstacle courses) whenever I can during therapy sessions. I have found that as my students approach 4-5 years of age, an exercise program, although not always the most fun, is quite beneficial.
An exercise program can be used to target specific muscle groups and allows the therapist a hands-on approach to fade assist, advance the exercise, and increase repetitions. As students become more independent completing the exercises, an improvement in postural alignment and quality of movement is almost always noted. I have found that completing 3-5 exercises at the start of a therapy session engages the child and prepares their bodies for the movement or balance activities to follow.
As we approach summer vacation, I start to introduce exercises that the child can continue to work on with the support of their family while away from school and therapy. I teach 2-3 exercises at a time and will wait until a student can complete them well before adding more. I recommend practicing the exercises for a few weeks before sending them home. I have found that students are receptive to looking at pictures of the exercise and imitating them. I LOVE to use pictures of the child themselves doing the exercise in my programs- kids like to perform for the camera and parents are more receptive to the program when it comes home with cute pictures of their kid!
The exercises published here are the exercises that I use the most with students age 3-21. Pictures in both color and black/white are included for each exercise.
I hope that you find the exercise program a useful tool to use during therapy sessions as well as a resource for promoting carry over of strengthening activities at home.
STRENGTHENING Exercise Resources
Tools to Grow is excited to share the following new Strengthening Exercise resources! These include Exercise Cards, Exercise Posters, Tracking Forms, and Home Exercise Program.
The following exercises can be printed, laminated, and assembled to provide a visual tool for students to use while exercising with therapist or to be offered to families as a home exercise program.
Tools To Grow Exercise Strengthening Resources are organized into Four Sets:
Set 1: CORE Strength
Home Exercise Program For Seniors
- Supine Flexion
- Sit-Ups
- Prone Extension
- Bridges
- Ball Pushes
- Cup Stack
- Cross Kicks
- Squat Jumps
- Mountain Climber
- Plank Jumps
- Plank
- Tables
- Table Kicks
- Donkey Kicks
Set 2: UPPER EXTREMITY Strength
- Knee Push-Ups
- Seated Push-Ups
- Wall Push-Ups
- Push-Ups
- Ball Press
- Standing Ball Press
- Tricep extensions
- Ball Curls
Set 3: LOWER EXTREMITY Strength
- Toe-Ups
- Wall Squats
- Squats
- Sit-to-Stands
- Stand-Ups
- Step-Ups
- Lunges
- Lower Extremity Strength: Using Scooter Board
- Foot/Ankle Strengthening Using a Ball
- Foot/Ankle Strengthening Using a Ball
- Foot/Ankle Strengthening Using Small Toys
Set 4: BILATERAL Coordination
- Jumping jacks (feet only)
- Jumping jacks
- Scissor jacks (feet only)
- Same side scissor jacks
- Opposite side scissor jacks
STRENGTHENING Exercise Cards
These strengthening exercise cards are the perfect tool to use in therapy, as well as to send home for carryover.
There are four high quality cards per page for a total of 38 cards. Includes Color and Black/White (Ink Friendly) Versions.
STRENGTHENING Exercise Tracking & Monitoring Forms
This Resource includes Five different versions. These forms are editable! You type directly into PDF to enter dates, student name, exercise, and tracking record.
Organized into the Four Sets of Exercise Cards. Lists Strengthening Exercises, Date Columns, and Key Code. A great and efficient way to track and monitor a child's ability to complete Strengthening Exercise Positions.
STRENGTHENING Exercise Posters
These strengthening exercise Posters are the perfect tool to use in therapy and clinic settings as a teaching tool.
There are two high quality posters per page for a total of 38 cards. Includes Color and Black/White (Ink Friendly) Versions.
Physical Therapy: Home Exercise Program
This Home Exercise Program includes Parent/Welcome Letter and Three Versions of Monitoring/Tracking Forms.
Personalize by TYPING directly into PDF:
- Type into Parent Letter to personalize instructions
- Student Name/Month
- Type Therapist Name
Three Versions of Tracking Forms Included:
(1) Calendar Version:
- Type Days of Month
- Type Exercises you wish student to complete in each square
(2) Tracking Sheet Version: 5 Column Version
- Type Exercises into Columns
(3) Tracking Sheet Version: 10 Column Version
- Type Exercises into Columns
FREE! Summer Gross Motor Fun!
Tools to Grow is excited to present our SUMMER Physical Therapy Gross Motor Fun! This Summer Packet is a FREE Printable! This Packet includes:
- Parent/Caregiver Introduction Letter
- Gross Motor Checklist of Summer Fun!
- Exercise Checklist – Editable!
Ndt College Programs
Personalize by TYPING directly into PDF:
- Type Student Name
- Type Therapist Name
- Type Exercises into Chart
Find these NEW STRENGTHENING EXERCISE resources here!
Find more Summer Resources here!
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