Emerging techniques are used for treating neurodeficiencies, including injuries, congenital deficiencies and other neuro-atypical. Unfortunately, physical therapists who try these principles can be hard to find. The increasingly popular method is neurodevelopmental therapy, or NDT.
At its core, Neurodevelopmental Therapy is a way to look at issues on a very personal level. Therapists for kids with disabilities use hands-on techniques and high-tech machines to train patients on tasks. For example, consider the case of a kid who can't grasp a fork might have that goal. The pediatric therapist might guide the kid through lifting the hand, reaching for the fork and seeing what that's like and then using the fingers and thumb to grab. It's all step by step, and guided by touch from start to finish.
The most valuable part of this Neurodevelopmental Therapy method is patient goal-setting. For children with special needs, families play a role. For adult patients dealing with problems such as TBI and stroke, the goal could be about balance. Some physical therapists who have used these strategies say that a patient's perception of treatment makes a huge difference in their healing processes.
Beyond feeling like it's working, Neurodevelopmental Therapy truly is effective. Physical therapists say their patients need less help and fewer devices and find it easier to get to proper positioning. Goals can be set, and reached, in a variety of functions.
For children with disabilities, pediatric physical therapists can use Neurodevelopmental Therapy to help with things that will make these kids less reliant on others. They can learn to bear their own weight, climb stairs, or even crawl or stand. Experts believe that some improvement is possible for almost everyone, even if they have been diagnosed with lifelong conditions.
The scientific research about Neurodevelopmental Therapy isn't very extensive, but the subject isn't controversial. Many of the studies have been done on relatively small sample sizes, so aren't widely applicable. But it all makes sense and a growing number of pediatric physical therapists and other specialists are starting to use it.
If you or a family member struggle with function and mobility, consider finding a non verbal autism San Diego Ca expert in your area.