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Tag: cerebral palsy

Serial Casting

Serial Casting- Casting That’s Not for Broken Bones

Dynamic serial casting is a conservative treatment method in which skilled physical therapists apply and remove a series of lightweight casts to a patient’s leg(s) in order to improve foot alignment and increase range of motion. The goal of serial casting is to improve range of motion in order to prevent chronic skeletal issues, reduce falls, improve function and efficiency, improve the child’s walking pattern, decrease current pain or prevent future pain, and improve alignment for future orthotic use. Serial casting can help to delay or prevent the need for surgical intervention. 

The casting process is performed by skilled physical or occupational therapists. A soft, semi-flexible casting material is applied over stockinette that is padded to protect bony prominences (natural bony points such as the ankle bones) and wrapped in a layer of cotton wrap. The joint is carefully positioned in a neutral position to maximize alignment and gently stretch the soft tissue, with the position maintained throughout the casting process. The child wears and walks (and squats, walks up and down stairs, and stands) on the cast for several days (typically 4 days on and 3 days off), with increased movement and weight bearing allowing for increased gains throughout the casting process. This process is repeated every week for 6-12 weeks until the desired range of motion gains have been made. Notable and measurable gains can be noted in just a few casts, too! 

Conditions that can be addressed with serial casting:

*This is not an exclusive list, as serial casting can benefit a wide variety of patients. Patients who are younger typically make quicker gains throughout the serial casting process; however, patients of any age can participate (and have participated) in serial casting. 

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Idiopathic Toe Walking
  • Club Foot
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
  • Spasticity (abnormal muscle tone)
  • Contractures

This noninvasive process is designed to make gains while having limited impact on the child’s typical daily activities. Children can play, stand, and walk within their home, school, and community and participate in after school activities and sports (with the exception of swimming and water play). It is typically not a stand alone treatment method. Casting typically coincides with or is followed by ongoing physical or occupational therapy, and a referral for a pediatric orthotic evaluation to continue to maximize the gains made throughout the serial casting process.  

Check out BDI’s Serial Casting page or ask your child’s BDI physical therapist for more information.

Cassidy Bannon, PT, DPT

 

Aqua Therapy

Pediatric Aqua Therapy

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Aqua Therapy Questions?

Give us a call anytime at (708)478-1820 or schedule a free screening or consultation below.

Schedule a screening

What is Aqua Therapy?

Aqua Therapy is a fun way to develop your child’s motor skills! The unique properties of water enhance therapeutic activities. The use of water in therapy can:

  • Provide a reduced gravity environment to help children explore and practice movements
  • Develop skills they are not yet able to perform on land
  • Provide resistance to active movement through all planes of motion
  • Facilitate gains in strength for all major muscle groups.
  • Increase tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive input that enhances body awareness and motor learning

Benefits of Aqua Therapy?

  • Increase in mobility and range of motion
  • Balance and coordination
  • Increase in trunk stability and postural alignment
  • Perceptual and spatial awareness
  • Muscular strength and endurance
  • Joint mobility
  • Muscle flexibility
  • Head & trunk control
  • Blood supply to muscles
  • Attention span & sensory motor integration
  • Respiratory rate
  • Circulation
  • Symmetry, strength and endurance
  • Decrease in pain
  • Decrease in muscle spasms
  • Decrease in abnormal tone and rigid muscles
  • Decrease in joint compression
  • Stress and tension release
  • The psychological benefits include improved self esteem, confidence, and motivation!

Your Aqua Therapists

BDI Playhouse Children’s Therapy’s aqua therapists are licensed physical and occupational therapists with experience in aquatic pediatric therapy. They have attended aquatic therapy courses, and have received certificates in Water Safety and CPR. They utilize aquatic and landbased techniques, including myofascial release, neuro-developmental treatment, sensory motor integration and functional motor skills in their treatment sessions with children who have orthopedic, neurologic and/or sensory motor challenges.

Aqua Therapy Locations and Materials

What do I need to bring to my child’s Aqua Therapy session?

  • Towels
  • Lock for locker (optional)
  • Bottle of water
  • Water diapers or rubber pants (for incontinence)
  • Non-skid slippers or water shoes

Locations:

Getting Started With Aquatic Therapy

Find answers here

Still not sure? Schedule a free consultation here

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Great Feedback from Great Families

Our son received physical therapy both in the office and in the pool for his torticollis. While we were incredibly happy to have our son ‘graduate,’ we were also so sad to say goodbye to our amazing physical therapist. She was dedicated, thorough, and caring; we are so grateful for this positive experience!”

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Physical Therapy

Pediatric Physical Therapy

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Questions about Physical Therapy? 

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708-478-1820

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Schedule a screening

BDI Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy is for more than just injury rehab or treatment of a diagnosed motor condition. Many children need short term Physical Therapy to address minor challenges or concerns noted by parents. A diagnosis is not required or necessary.

Casting for Pediatric Orthotics

Physical Therapy can help with

  • Infant head shape: flat spots or other differences
  • Bladder and Bowel Training
  • Gross motor development
  • Milestones related to walking, sitting, crawling
  • Sports Performance
  • Scoliosis Intervention
  • Bike Riding
  • Difficulties in Gym and Physical Education Class
  • Muscle strengthening
  • Posture / postural control
  • Pre-gait and gait training
  • Neuromuscular function
  • Environmental adaptations / seating and positioning
  • Splinting / bracing / orthotics
  • Improving endurance
  • Coordination of movements
  • Balance training
  • Family education

If your child does have a diagnosed condition

If your child does have a diagnosed condition, you can feel confident in our collaborative team approach that brings multiple specialties together to address the whole picture and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.  Our therapists have a high commitment to continuing education and stay in tune with the latest research-proven methods for the treatment of:

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Spina Bifida
  • Down Syndrome
  • Sports injuries
  • Scoliosis
  • Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Torticollis
  • Brachial Plexus injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Decreased coordination
  • Incontinence
  • Various other motor conditions

Reflex

Physical therapists assist children in reaching their fullest potential in functional independence and fitness.

Innovative programs are aimed at:

  • Enhancing strength, coordination and balance
  • Physical fitness
  • Wellness for optimal quality of life

If you have questions or concerns, a free 30 minute screening with a Pediatric PT is a GREAT place to start. Our therapists work with children with or without a diagnosis.

Schedule a screening

A-Z of our PT Services

A

Adaptive Sports

Aquatic Therapy

B

Balance

Ball Skills

Bike Riding

Bilateral Coordination

Biofeedback

Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction

C

Coordination 

D

Developmental Screening

Dynamic Serial Casting

E

Early Intervention

Environmental Adaptations

F

Family Education

G

Gait Training

Gross Motor Skills

H

Health Promotion

Head Shape

Home Exercise Program

I

Incontinence Training

Infant Massage

Intensive therapy

K

Kinesiology Taping

M

Motor Learning

Myofascial Release

N

Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT)

O

Orthotic Assessment and Training

P

Pelvic Floor Education

Positioning to assist with feeding

Postural Awareness and Training

Prosthetic Training

R

Reflex Integration

S

Scoliosis

Schroth Therapy

Serial Casting

Sports Injury Recovery

Strengthening

T

Toe Walking

Total Motion Release (TMR)

Torticollis

V

Visual Motor

W

Wheelchair Assessments

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Great Feedback from Great Families

My son Jayden is 11 and has been coming to BDI for the past 4 years. BDI has become family in the way they treat my son. I truly feel deep in my heart if it wasn’t for his PT my son wouldn’t be walking the way he is today. BDI hires only the BEST. Every child here is treated with respect and love and each parent is respected and appreciated for their role in their child’s treatment plan.”

Getting Started With Physical Therapy

Find answers here

Still not sure? Learn more about whether your child needs therapy here


https://totalmotionrelease.com/tmrhome
https://www.bedwettingandaccidents.com/find-a-provider


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