THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING.. LOOK FOR GRANTS IN YOUR AREA TO HELP PAY FOR THE COST... WE USE FAMILY SUPPORT MONEY FROM OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL TO PAY FOR JAYMASON'S LESSONS!!
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herapeutic riding programs are popping up all over the country.These riding programs bring disabled children and adults together with horses in a world where disabilities can fade away, if only for a short time. Fears can be overcome, self-esteem built up, can inspire confidence and often times the programs can give control of movement via the horse to a child that has not much control.Some of the other important factors that horseback riding offers is it teaches a skill while at the same time helps the rider to stretch and strengthen muscle tone. The rhythm of riding helps to relax the body and improve balance and coordination. A good riding program will have safe, gentle horses, provide riding helmets, assist with getting off and on the horse/pony and provide a handler for leading and an attendant walking on alongside the rider. These are special horses with a special attitude, many of these horses know that they have to "take care" of the rider.First check out the stable, make sure they do use kind, gentle horses, check out the safety and cleanliness of the stable, check for references from riders current and past, instructors in my state have to be licensed to give any kind of riding instruction. If your child seems frightened don't push them to go on, visit the stable frequently, lead up to petting or brushing the horse/pony, in time most any child will attempt to ride. Remember the horse sees us bigger than we see them.The first lesson, dress properly. Long pants, hard soled shoes or boots are usually recommended but sneakers can be used if necessary. Make sure a helmet is always used. Each stable will differ on their rules to some degree.Usually the first time will be led by an experienced horse handler with an attendant walking alongside the horse, when the rider becomes more comfortable and confident, the instructor will use a "loungeline" this is a long line that is attached to the horses halter while the instructor is on the other end of the line in the center of the ring. The rider thus has more freedom to control the horse his or herself. The next step up is to ride in a ring with no lead or loungeline attached. Freedom of movement with the horse with the instructor in the ring. After this, it's on to the Special Olympics for some.There are many programs around the country and many can be accessed via the Internet. Oh yes, one other final note, the horse and rider usually make a friendship that lasts a lifetime.
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Wheelchair Sports Organizations
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No matter what the sport, nothing beats the thrill of competition. No matter what the disability, there are an array of wheelchair sports organizations across the world who are determined to get everyone into the game. Whether you or a loved one has been impacted by spina bifida, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, MGT encourages you to explore all of your options.No matter which wheelchair sports organization you choose, MGT is committed to assisting disabled adults and children to live actively and independently. Our two flagship products, IKAN Bowler ® and IKAN Power Soccer are designed to do just that. With the ability to be mounted to virtually any power wheelchair, these products give those who have all levels of spinal cord injury a fun way to fulfill their competitive spirit. They also hold an array of therapeutic, social, and recreational benefits.Below is an overview of just a few of the many wheelchair sports organizations that continue to grow in popularity and expand the horizons of the disabled.National Sports Center For The Disabled
Founded in 1970, the National Sports Center for the Disabled's mission is to positively impact the lives of people with any physical or mental challenge through quality adaptive recreation programs in over 20 sports. The NSCD's impact on lives is direct, immediate and visible. Over 17,000 lessons were provided in 2005 alone.You can learn more about this organization at: www.nscd.orgNational Disability Sports Alliance
The National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) is the National Coordinating Body for competitive sports for individuals with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and survivors of stroke. NDSA was originally formed as the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association (USCPAA) in 1987. NDSA also provides programming for other physically disabling conditions such as muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis.You can learn more about this organization at: www.ndsaonline.orgThe Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association
The Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA), founded in 1967, is a national sport organization representing wheelchair athletes. It is an incorporated, not-for-profit, organization recognized by Sport Canada.You can learn more about this organization at: www.cwsa.ca
Lakeshore Foundation
Lakeshore Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 organization that promotes independence for persons with physically disabling conditions and opportunities to pursue active healthy lifestyles. The Foundation offers a wide range of fitness, recreation, athletic and education programs to children and adults who experience diagnostic conditions including spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, amputation, and visual impairment.You can learn more about this organization at: www.lakeshore.org
BlazeSports America
BlazeSports America provides sports training, competitions, summer camps and other sports and recreational opportunities for youth and adults who use wheelchairs, have a visual impairment, have an amputation, or who have a neurological disability such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida. Participant ages range, depending on the program, from 6 years through adulthood.You can learn more about this organization at: www.blazesports.com
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CLICK LOGOS FOR MORE INFORMATION
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I'd like to meet:
Please see blog ALL ABOUT CEREBRAL PALSY for full information..
Below is an overview of the most common terms used.*******************************************************
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*********************Many people have a bias in place of what CP should look like..Cerebral palsy doesn’t always cause profound disabilities. While one child with severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care, another with mild cerebral palsy might be only slightly awkward and require no special assistance. Supportive treatments, medications, and surgery can help many individuals improve their motor skills and ability to communicate with the world.******************************************************
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**********************What Are the Different Forms?
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****************The specific forms of cerebral palsy are determined by the extent, type, and location of a child’s abnormalities. Doctors classify cerebral palsy according to the type of movement disorder involved -- spastic (stiff muscles), athetoid (writhing movements), or ataxic (poor balance and coordination) -- plus any additional symptoms. Doctors will often describe the type of cerebral palsy a child has based on which limbs are affected. The names of the most common forms of cerebral palsy use Latin terms to describe the location or number of affected limbs, combined with the words for weakened (paresis) or paralyzed (plegia). For example, hemiparesis (hemi = half) indicates that only one side of the body is weakened. Quadriplegia (quad = four) means all four limbs are paralyzed.
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****************Spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis. This type of cerebral palsy typically affects the arm and hand on one side of the body, but it can also include the leg. Children with spastic hemiplegia generally walk later and on tip-toe because of tight heel tendons. The arm and leg of the affected side are frequently shorter and thinner. Some children will develop an abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis). Depending on the location of the brain damage, a child with spastic hemiplegia may also have seizures. Speech will be delayed and, at best, may be competent, but intelligence is usually normal.
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****************Spastic diplegia/diparesis. In this type of cerebral palsy, muscle stiffness is predominantly in the legs and less severely affects the arms and face, although the hands may be clumsy. Tendon reflexes are hyperactive. Toes point up. Tightness in certain leg muscles makes the legs move like the arms of a scissor. Children with this kind of cerebral palsy may require a walker or leg braces. Intelligence and language skills are usually normal.
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****************Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis. This is the most severe form of cerebral palsy, often associated with moderate-to-severe mental retardation. It is caused by widespread damage to the brain or significant brain malformations. Children will often have severe stiffness in their limbs but a floppy neck. They are rarely able to walk. Speaking and being understood are difficult. Seizures can be frequent and hard to control.
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****************Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also includes athetoid, choreoathetoid, and dystonic cerebral palsies). This type of cerebral palsy is characterized by slow and uncontrollable writhing movements of the hands, feet, arms, or legs. In some children, hyperactivity in the muscles of the face and tongue makes them grimace or drool. They find it difficult to sit straight or walk. Children may also have problems coordinating the muscle movements required for speaking. Intelligence is rarely affected in these forms of cerebral palsy.
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****************Ataxic cerebral palsy. This rare type of cerebral palsy affects balance and depth perception. Children will often have poor coordination and walk unsteadily with a wide-based gait, placing their feet unusually far apart. They have difficulty with quick or precise movements, such as writing or buttoning a shirt. They may also have intention tremor, in which a voluntary movement, such as reaching for a book, is accompanied by trembling that gets worse the closer their hand gets to the object.
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Mixed types. It is common for children to have symptoms that don’t correspond to any single type of cerebral palsy. Their symptoms are a mix of types. For example, a child with mixed cerebral palsy may have some muscles that are too tight and others that are too relaxed, creating a mix of stiffness and floppiness.
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****************BOTOX
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****************Botulinum toxin (BT-A), injected locally, has become a standard treatment for overactive muscles in children with spastic movement disorders such as cerebral palsy. BT-A relaxes contracted muscles by keeping nerve cells from over-activating muscle. Although BT-A is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating cerebral palsy, since the 1990s doctors have been using it off-label to relax spastic muscles. A number of studies have shown that it reduces spasticity and increases the range of motion of the muscles it targets.The relaxing effect of a BT-A injection lasts approximately 3 months. Undesirable side effects are mild and short-lived, consisting of pain upon injection and occasionally mild flu-like symptoms. BT-A injections are most effective when followed by a stretching program including physical therapy and splinting. BT-A injections work best for children who have some control over their motor movements and have a limited number of muscles to treat, none of which is fixed or rigid.Because BT-A does not have FDA approval to treat spasticity in children, parents and caregivers should make sure that the doctor giving the injection is trained in the procedure and has experience using it in children.
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****************Orthotic Devices
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****************Orthotic devices – such as braces and splints – use external force to correct muscle abnormalities. The technology of orthotics has advanced over the past 30 years from metal rods that hooked up to bulky orthopedic shoes, to appliances that are individually molded from high-temperature plastics for a precise fit. Ankle-foot orthoses are frequently prescribed for children with spastic diplegia to prevent muscle contracture and to improve gait. Splints are also used to correct spasticity in the hand muscles.****************************************************
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Assistive Technology
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****************Devices that help individuals move about more easily and communicate successfully at home, at school, or in the workplace can help a child or adult with cerebral palsy overcome physical and communication limitations. There are a number of devices that help individuals stand straight and walk, such as postural support or seating systems, open-front walkers, quadrapedal canes (lightweight metal canes with four feet), and gait poles. Electric wheelchairs let more severely impaired adults and children move about successfully.The computer is probably the most dramatic example of a communication device that can make a big difference in the lives of people with cerebral palsy. Equipped with a computer and voice synthesizer, a child or adult with cerebral palsy can communicate successfully with others. For example, a child who is unable to speak or write but can make head movements may be able to control a computer using a special light pointer that attaches to a headband.***************************************************
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*************************Hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
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****************Some children have cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage from oxygen deprivation. Proponents of hyperbaric oxygen therapy propose that the brain tissue surrounding the damaged area can be “awakened†by forcing high concentrations of oxygen into the body under greater than atmospheric pressure.A recent study compared a group of children who received no hyperbaric treatment to a group that received 40 treatments over 8 weeks. On every measure of function (gross motor, cognitive, communication, and memory) at the end of 2 months of treatment and after a further 3 months of followup, the two groups were identical in outcome. There was no added benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy.****************************************************
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Music:
Some of those topics no one really wants to talk about, but they are a reality.. SO....
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How about diaper rash and spastic legs.....................
It's that annoying redness that won't go away beacause there legs are so tight and rub against the diaper................
It is yeast...... use Pampers brand, they are spendy but run larger, breathe, are more absorbant, and stay drier... Huggies brand has a chemical that causes more yeast to grow, and the store brand expose too much moisture in the environment.. use Clortrimazole cream usp 1% antifungal cream, diaper rash products wont kill the fungas.. you can buy Target and Wal-Mart store brands they are half the cost.. (and no I receive no kick backs from Pampers, Target, and Wal-Mart for mentioning them.. I WISH)
Check with your insurance some will cover diapers once your child turns 3, also some therapy centers have grants to help pay for diapers..
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Early on-set of secondary sexual characteristics
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Don't panic if you see pubic hair on your 3 year old........
Secondary Sexual Characteristics in Children With Cerebral Palsy can happen early, puberty usually happens late........************************************************
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Books:
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dren with Cerebral Palsy : A Parents Guide
By Elaine Gerlais
"A good, well rounded resource for the parent who young child has been recently diagnosed with cerebral palsy or another disability."
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Cerebral Palsy : A Complete Guide for Caregiving
By Freeman Miller, Steven J. Bachrach
"The best resource for parents for all aspects of cerebral palsy in children and babies. Highly recommended. Includes an overview of child development; medical issues; psychological, and social development; Hemiplegia, Diplegia, and Quadriplegia; and financial and legal information."
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The Official Parent's Sourcebook on Cerebral Palsy
by James N. Parker and Philip M. Parker (Editors)
Basic suggestions for researching cerebral palsy (e.g. finding guidelines on diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis) are followed by a number of topics, including organizations, associations, or other patient networks dedicated to cerebral palsy. Also includes resources for research dedicated to cerebral palsy such as contact names, links via the Internet, and summaries.
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My Perfect Son Has Cerebral Palsy: A Mother's Guide of Helpful Hints
by Marie Kennedy
The personal self-published story of a young boy with cerebral palsy
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Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair
by Jamee Riggio Heelan
Explains how having cerebral palsy affects Taylor, and how getting a wheelchair makes a big difference in helping him get around, do things by himself, and even play basketball with his twin Tyler.
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Howie Helps Himself
by Joan Fassler
"For elementary school age, the story of a boy who uses a wheel chair."
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Heroes:
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RESOURCES:
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United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)
1660 L Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
[email protected]
http://www.ucp.org
Tel: 202-776-0406 800-USA-5UCP (872-5827)
Fax: 202-776-0414
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About Us
Improving the lives of childrenDeciding where to take your child for specialized medical care is one of the most important choices facing many parents. You want the highest quality care and the most respected pediatric specialists to ensure the best outcomes for your child.Shriners Hospitals for Children has been providing state-of-the-art care for more than 80 years. Our network of pediatric specialty hospitals focus on orthopaedic conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate repair.Our staff believes in and practices a "family-centered-care" approach to treatment. We believe the the family plays a vital role in a child's ability to overcome an illness or injury. Shriners Hospitals helps the family provide the support the child needs by involving the family in all aspects of care and recovery. The purpose of all Shriners Hospitals is to provide care for our children so they can lead fuller, more productive lives.
No Barriers to CareWhile providing this high-quality care, we do not face the barriers of insurance industry processes and policies. Because we do not rely on third-party funding by insurance providers or U.S. government agencies for treatment provided by our hospitals, our physicians, nurses and therapists can create and implement a treatment plan without delay.All children, from birth to 18 years of age, may be eligible for care at Shriners Hospitals if, in the opinion of our doctors, the child can benefit from the specialized care provided by our hospitals. Eligibility is not dependent on financial need or relationship to a Shriner.
Leaders in InnovationShriners Hospitals established the first pediatric orthopaedic hospital in 1922 in Shreveport, La., and since then we've continued a tradition of discovering and addressing the special needs of children.* Established the first pediatric burn hospitals, paving the way for similar hospitals worldwide
* Established the first spinal cord injury rehabilitation units designed specifically for pediatric use
* Activated the first pediatric air ambulance, staffed with burn specialists, for the transportation of critically injured burn patientsResearchShriners Hospitals' contributions to the medical community not only benefit our patients, but contribute to the overall knowledge for the care and treatment for a wide range of pediatric and adult conditions. Shriners researchers have played key roles in:* Development of a cultured skin substitute for burn-injured patients
* Development of a nutritional formula that reduces infection and improves healing for pediatric burn patients
* Partner in discovery of genetic cause of juvenile Paget's disease (JPD)
* Collaborated in discovery of genetic causes for 10 inheritable bone diseases
* Development of effective treatments for osteogenesis imperfecta (also known as brittle bone disease)EducationShriners Hospitals is proud of its role in medical education. In the past 20 years, more than 8,000 physicians have received residency education or postgraduate fellowship at Shriners Hospitals. By maintaining relationships with over 60 medical teaching facilities worldwide, Shriners Hospitals fosters an academic environment committed to providing high-quality medical care to all patients.While there are many elements to Shriners Hospitals for Children, there is only one purpose: to improve the lives of children.***************************************************
*****Specializing in Pediatric Orthopaedics
Care, Research, Education
Shriners Hospitals for Children have a strong, solid reputation for excellence. There are 18 Shriners hospitals that specialize exclusively in pediatric orthopaedics.The field of pediatric orthopaedics includes treatment for injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Shriners hospitals are staffed and equipped to handle virtually all pediatric problems, except for acute trauma. Some of the most common conditions treated at Shriners include, but are not limited to:* cerebral palsy
* clubfoot
* congenital hip dislocation
* leg length discrepancies
* missing limbs
* Legg-Perthes disease
* myelodysplasia
* oteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
* scoliosis
* spina bifidaThirteen of our hospitals have motion analysis labs equipped to carefully study how a child with mobility problems walks. These high-tech labs use a system of reflective markers, high-speed cameras and computers to develop a model of a child's walk which aid physicians in recommending individualized treatment plans.
Research
Being a leader in providing innovative treatments depends ..ting-edge research. Much of what Shriners hospitals have been able to accomplish was possible because of a strong commitment to research efforts.Currently, there are over 140 research projects underway at Shriners hospitals.
EducationSeveral thousand physicians have received residency or postgraduate fellowship training in our hospitals. In fact, many orthopaedic surgeons practicing today received instruction at some point, directly or indirectly, from Shriners hospitals.Today, Shriners orthopaedic hospitals have strong links to many respected universities including: Washington University, Northwestern University, Rush University, UCLA, University of Utah, University of Hawaii and McGill University.The emphasis on research and education at Shriners hospitals are part of our total commitment to finding and providing the best possible orthopaedic care for children.
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THIS SITE SUPPORTS SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS
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