Use of neurodevelopmental treatment, also known as the Bobath method, is discussed, including its history, philosophy, goals, and treatment emphasis with infants and children with movement disorders. Examples of children before and after therapeutic intervention illustrate use of the technique, and controversies in measuring therapy efficacy are…

This study attempted to (1) determine whether stroke patients (n=20) can safely increase their walking speed above that of comfortable walking; (2) describe the relationship between comfortable and maximum safe walking speed; and (3) examine correlations between maximum and comfortable speeds and a functional walking score. Subjects were able to…

Evidence-based decision making (EBDM) was incorporated into an institute for 42 dental hygiene, occupational therapy, and physical therapy faculty. The 4-day sessions addressed active teaching techniques, formulation of good questions, critical appraisal of evidence, and application, feedback, and evaluation. Most participants felt prepared to…

Twenty young children (mean age = 32 months) with cerebral palsy (CP) recruited from early intervention programs received 30 minutes of massage or reading twice weekly for 12 weeks. The children receiving massage therapy showed fewer physical symptoms including reduced spasticity, less rigid muscle tone overall and in the arms, and improved fine…

To ensure that the new physical therapist assistant (PTA) curriculum at Allegany Community College (Maryland) met current professional needs, a survey was undertaken of establishments likely to employ PTAs. An employer needs questionnaire was returned by 272 establishments (of 1,250 surveyed). Findings indicated that more than half of the…

Informal weekly dance sessions conducted by physical therapists and dancers over a 3-year period provided therapeutic and recreational activity to physically handicapped adults. (CL)

The manual serves as a model for school districts developing procedures for supervising and evaluating their therapy services. The narrative is addressed to therapists rather than supervisors so that school districts can photocopy or adapt sections of the manual and assemble customized manuals for therapists in their programs. The first chapter,…

In response to a research review indicating that few programs address the father's role in early intervention and preschool programs for the young exceptional child, a three-month practicum was designed which included fathers in physical therapy sessions and in daily home exercise programming for their developmentally disabled children. Practicum…

This textbook is designed for the use of persons dealing with the problems of body alignment and function, primarily the physical therapist, the physical educator, and the physician. Those procedures are included that appear to be best suited for prevention of disability, improvement of impaired function, and maintenance of the optimum level of…

Text, illustrations, and exercises are used in these two learning modules to instruct physical therapists and others involved in the care of the infirm in methods of comfortably positioning patients in beds and chairs. The first module, "Basic Positioning in Bed and Chair," describes how to position a patient in the upright sitting…

Physical therapy faculty and clinical staff were reorganized into teams associated with medical specialties in order to have combined talents used continually over a 12-month period. Objectives were to improve patient care, improve teaching of physical therapy students, and develop a closer, more productive relationship with physicians.…

This report describes the implementation variation of physical and occupational therapy for 43 motor-delayed infants in early intervention programs. The influences of infant, family, and program variables on the actual therapy services were determined. Therapist availability and severity of motor delay were the critical factors influencing the…

A study was conducted to determine which preprofessional academic and personal characteristics were related to academic and clinical success in a physical therapy program. Neither the academic nor personal characteristics studied were strong predictors of performance in the professional physical therapy educational program. (Author/CT)

The Child Development Center of the Hamptons (CDCH) is a K?7 charter school founded to educate disabled and nondisabled students side by side in the classroom. Classes are small, averaging 15 students per grade. All students take their courses together, except for special ed pullouts for speech and physical therapy sessions. Each class includes…