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 |  موضوع: Ben’s New Therapy  الأحد ديسمبر 27, 2009 10:58 am | |
| Ben enrolled in a special new therapy program at a therapy center called Free Motion Rehabilitation, in Howell NJ. The program is an intense therapy program that uses a European approach with unique equipment and methods. The therapy sessions are 3 1/2 hours per day, five days a week for three weeks straight.
The program began on December 19th, 2005 and continued through the holidays until January 6th. We decided to choose the busy holiday season as an effort to minimize the days Ben would miss school. Since Ben is off school for Christmas break he only missed two weeks of school instead of three. We also arranged for a few late afternoon sessions so that Ben could attend a few days of school in between for continuity.
The program involves stretching and strengthening excerises which are conducted using a variety of unique methods. A special cage called the Universal Exercise Unit is an essential part of the therapy. A method called spider cage therapy is conducted within this cage like set up. "Spider Cage" uses a system of harnesses and bungee cords attached to a belt worn by the child and anchored to different points of the partially enclosed large cage. The bungie cords are used to assist the therapist in positioning the child, and provide a unique hands free method that allows Ben to experience standing up without someone physically holding on to him. This method challenges the muscles and central nervous system in a unique way that provides an opportunity for the child to experiment with movements in a safe environment. The assisted movement and patterning provides an opportunity for Ben to help program his mind and muscles for balance and coordination. 
Universal Exercise Unit (The "Cage") Ben in "Spider-Cage" Therapy 
Sample TheraSuit Ben in the TheraSuitNew Therapy Progress Report Ben has completed his new intense therapy program. He has done amazingly well! During the entire 3 1/2 hour therapy sessions Ben is provided no more than a total of 15 minutes of downtime or rest. He had his moments where he would break down and cry as many as 3 times in a given session, but he recovers quickly and always manages to stay on track. Mom and Dad work hard to provide entertainment and distractions as a means to help motivate Ben during this difficult therapy course. The therapist, Laura does an excellent job with Ben and manages to mix a balance of work and work disguised as fun. She begins each session with a 15-20 minute stretching and massaging treatment with heated blankets which all helped prepare Ben for the tough work out ahead. Ben then works through a series of exercises involving weights attached to pulleys in the Universal Exercise Unit or "Cage" that provide resistance and muscle isolation training. Sand bags are used to prevent him from moving other parts of his body to isolate specific muscles during specific tasks.  
Ben Suiting up in the TheraSuit Reach!  
Super Ben! I’m A Big Boy!NO STRINGS ATTACHED
On January 6, 2006 Benjamin completed an intense therapy program at Free Motion Rehab in Howell New Jersey. Ben endured a three and a half hour session five days per week for three weeks. Each session involved massaging and stretching his muscles, strengthening exercises, and unique therapy systems knows as Spider Cage Therapy and Therasuit Therapy. Spider Cage uses a bungie cord system that provides an opportunity for the child to stand "unassisted" while practicing balance and movements. The Therasuit therapy involves a tight suit that uses elastic cords to provide sensory input and pulls the body into alignment.
Seeing Ben in the Spider Cage therapy for the first time brought on a flood of emotions. To see him standing there with out "anyone" holding him was such a sight to behold….And to see his face when he watched himself in the mirror…"standing" there…was beyond overwhelming. It’s kind of like witnessing a reverse Pinocchio theme. Here is this boy….hanging from these strings, like a puppet, but feeling less like a puppet and more like a boy then previously possible. Weeks into the therapy, as he learned to use those strings in conjunction with his own muscles to achieve strength balance and posture, he looked at himself in the mirror and said, "I big boy" ….but what I heard was, "I’m a real boy now."
On the second to last day of therapy, Ben was practicing sitting on a backless bench in the special Therasuit. After about half an hour of fighting to keep his balance the therapist took off the Therasuit and sat Ben back on the bench. What happened then was nothing short of a miracle. Ben sat up straighter then he ever has in his entire life. And not only did he sit on that bench, without any assistance, he also began throwing therapy balls at the wall and trying to get them in his bag. The strength and balance he exhibited was amazing. His therapist Laura and I watched in awe as we witnessed my boy playing ball on that bench with no strings attached. Yes Ben, you are a big boy now….no strings attached….you are a real boy now. 
Ben sitting by himself!New Therapy Round 2 | |
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