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Articles/Complementary Resources in Therapeutic Riding
Complementary Resources in Therapeutic Riding
Theratogs e Wraps
TheraTogs apply prolonged, low-load (gentle) forces to the musculoskeletal system to effect changes in muscle recruitment strategies, and, with full-time use, in muscle physiology and bone geometry.
To gain optimum posture and function, thousands or repetitions of movements must occur in optimum alignment. TheraTogs accomplishes this by wrapping the torso in a Velcro-sensitive garment that serves as a ‘strapping field,’ allowing the clinician to attach straps that work like external muscles to improve postural alignment and stability, and potentially address a wide variety of functional alignment and movement issues.
TheraTogs are highly adaptable and customizable by design; the list of product applications is long, and new ideas are added all the time. To help get you started, we know that patients with Cerebral Palsy into the following issues have shown improvement with TheraTogs use:
- • Joint laxity
- • Muscle recruitment problems
- • Sensory integration issues
- • Postural mal-alignment
- • Muscle imbalance
- • Joint deviations
Thus the prevalence of children with neurological disease in our environment is has shown to be quite high, requiring special attention from professionals in the rehabilitation neuropediatric areas.
We know that there is no cure for Cerebral Palsy. Therefore new technologies and resources are being developed around the world seeking a better quality of life for these patients.
In individuals with Cerebral Palsy, alterations in postural tone can result from abnormalities in a variety of underlying systems, such as abnormal mechanical properties of muscle, inability to organize and integrate somatosensory input from muscles of the neck (referred to as tonic neck reflex) so that moving the head changes the pattern of tone, inability to utilize visual and vestibular inputs, including labyrinthine and visual righting reflex for orientation in space, and excessive use of muscle in patterns of co-ativation as a postural strategy to maintain stability. In addition these infants move primarily on the sagittal plane and subsequentaly develop stereotyped, limited secondary repertoires because of limited experience and limited sensory feedback. Because they do not expand their movement repertoires, they have difficulty activating and elongating all their muscles, consequently, they might never experience full ROM(range of motion) of their joints. If they do not develop full ROM and do not elongate their muscles fully, they are vulnerable to muscular contractures and skeletal deformities.
Theratogs e Wraps
TheraTogs apply prolonged, low-load (gentle) forces to the musculoskeletal system to effect changes in muscle recruitment strategies, and, with full-time use, in muscle physiology and bone geometry.
To gain optimum posture and function, thousands or repetitions of movements must occur in optimum alignment. TheraTogs accomplishes this by wrapping the torso in a Velcro-sensitive garment that serves as a ‘strapping field,’ allowing the clinician to attach straps that work like external muscles to improve postural alignment and stability, and potentially address a wide variety of functional alignment and movement issues.
TheraTogs are highly adaptable and customizable by design; the list of product applications is long, and new ideas are added all the time. To help get you started, we know that patients with Cerebral Palsy into the following issues have shown improvement with TheraTogs use:
- Joint laxity
- Muscle recruitment problems
- Sensory integration issues
- Postural mal-alignment
- Muscle imbalance
- Joint deviations
Splints and Orthotics
Splints and Orthotics are common in the management of adults and children with neuropathology. The goal in using such devices is to improve hand function, facilitate balance in sitting, adjust biomechanical components for posture rider, or prevent the development of muscle contractures and structural deformities that affect functional skills. The therapist needs to evaluate the specific need for orthotic device and to determine its effectiveness with the same attention to functional goals as any other aspect of the plane of care.
Kinesio Taping
The Kinesio Taping Method is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate de body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscle and joints without restricting de body’s range of motion as well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of manual therapy administered within the clinical setting.
It is usual be used in the therapeutic riding as a support and stability to muscle and joints as showed in the pictures above.
This study shows that the integration of complementary therapeutic resources during Therapeutic Riding contributed significantly in achieving the neuromotor goals to all patients suffering from Cerebral Palsy.
REFERENCES
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– Progressive Gaitways, LLC. Theratogs.Tellaride. Co 2003