This document provides information about physical therapy for children with special needs, particularly cerebral palsy. It discusses what cerebral palsy is, how physical therapy can help children with CP, and the role of physical therapists. Physical therapy is one of the most important treatments for CP as it helps children improve motor skills like walking, balance, and coordination. Therapists develop individualized plans to help each child reach their highest possible functional level through exercises, activities, and adaptive equipment. The document also shares a class activity the author did which involved carrying an egg on a spoon to demonstrate challenges of CP.

1. Physical Therapy with Special Needs Children By: Lindsey Smith

2. 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.

3. All About Me This 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

4. All About Me (cont’d) This is when my mom took me to a place called “the Mark” in Norristown And I graduated

5. Audience relevance Understanding Supporting

7. physical therapy

8. Application

9. Cerebral palsy

10. Conclusion

12. Average People On average, this is how many people go to physical therapy (http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2008/sports/images/figure06.gif)

13. 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)

14. 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)

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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)

18. Physical Therapist diagnose and treat individuals examine 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)

19. 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)

20. As a patient (cont’d) Examination to include performing tests and measures. Perform evaluations Establish a diagnosis (http://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt_defined.php)

21. 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#)

22. 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#)

23. 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)

24. 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)

25. 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 )

26. 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)

27. 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)

28. Where do PTs work? Physical therapists may practice in hospitals, clinics, private offices, private homes, or schools. (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm)

29. Benefits of Physical Therapy Sports Related Injuries Chronic Diseases such as Arthritis br />Surgery Issues Balance or Mobility Problems Sprains and Muscle Injuries Lower back Problems Cerebral Palsy (http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html)

30. 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)

31. "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

32. Application For my application I had an event called the Physical therapy Obstacle course The 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

33. 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#)

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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)

40. Types of CP Spastic diplegia Spastic hemiplegia Spastic quadriplegia Congenital Cerebral Palsy Mixed Cerebral Palsy Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy Ataxic Cerebral Palsy AthetoidDyskinetic Cerebral Palsy (http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html)

41. 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)

43. Or after birth in the first few years of life

44. In fact, current thinking is that at least 70-80% of cases of cerebral palsy begin before birthhttp://www.emedicinehealth.com/cerebral_palsy/page2_em.htm

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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)

48. 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)

49. 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)

50. Children who have CP Approximately 500,000 people in this country have some degree of Cerebral Palsy (Hawkins 3) (http://repairstemcell.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/cerebralpalsy.jpg)

51. 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#)

52. 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

53. 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

54. 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

56. I also learned a lot about my disabilityMy project has changed me because I am going to live my life the way I want to not anybody else

57. 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

58. 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

59. 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

60. 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