When thinking about a good blog for February, the first thing that comes to mind is LOVE. And while there are many different types of love, I feel blessed to witness a special love everyday I work with the families at Child and Family Development. This love is the love between a child and his/her parent and the love in return from the parent to the child.
This past fall I went to a Mark Schultz concert here in Charlotte. During the concert he sang a song off his new album called "What it Means to Be Loved". The lyrics of the song really put into words the love I see in my office everyday. Of course by the first chorus of the song I was trying to hide the tears in my eyes.
"I wanna give her the world
I wanna hold her hand
I wanna be her mom for as long as I can
And I wanna live every moment until that day comes
I wanna show her what it means to be loved"
Don't worry this song has a very happy ending, and as it reached the end, there was no point in hiding the tears any longer - I just let them stream down my face (along with every other person in the audience). If you haven't heard the song, you should look it up, it is very inspiring!
So this Valentine's Day, I would like to extend my love and devotion to my patients and their families. But even more importantly I would like to personally thank all the parents of children with disabilities for their love and support of their children. It is a love that is indescribable and knows/recognizes no bounds. And most times it is your love and dedication to your children that allows them to make unexpected changes and beat all odds!
I cannot tell you the number of parents and families I meet who tell me, "They said at birth, he would never walk" and now their son with cerebral palsy is running down the hallway. Or, "We always were worried about her reaching her teenage years" and now she plays wheelchair sports and can't wait to go to college. The stories are endless. One of my favorites is a family whose son was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth, and they refuse to call it "Downs" in their house they call it "Ups"! I recently heard a child that just turned 4, laugh out loud for the first time.
Often as healthcare professionals; pediatricians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists - we get the credit for the changes made in your children. But it is really your love and dedication that push your children to want to make these changes. We are reaping the benefits of what you instill in them!
So THANK YOU and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Erin Harkins, DPT
I recently went to see "Adam" on the big screen. It is a cinematic depiction of an adult male, in his late 20s, facing the world while dealing with Asperger's Syndrome. The movie follows the character through various relationships, jobs, and individual thoughts.
Adam, the main character, is abruptly faced with making many decisions on his own, with little guidance. He meets a girl that just moved into his building and their relationship develops. Without giving anything away, I will say that the movie caused me to spend time thinking about many of the children and families that I work with. The movie was a great representation of how successful individuals with the diagnosis of Asperger's can and do become in our society.
The movie was heart warming yet realistic. It is a must see for anyone, but especially for families that may be directly impacted by autism or Asperger's syndrome.
I recently had the opportunity with another local physical therapist to hold a instructional/informational session for 20 local pediatric physical therapists. Our topic was Aquatics and the Pediatric Physical Therapy Patient. Below is a brief synopsis of what we discussed. Are you interested in aquatic therapy for your child? Check out our website, I would be happy to speak with you about our program!
Erin Harkins, DPT
Benefits of Aquatic Therapy v. Land Based Therapy
*Assisted movement via buoyancy of water
*Increased sensory stimulation & proprioceptive input/awareness
*Decreased joint compressive forces
*Inhibition of Spasticity
*Increased circulation
*Decreased heart rate
*Increased resistance in every direction
*Multi-planar movement
*Improved respiratory support
*Safety during gait training
Examples of some Pediatric Patients that Benefit from Aquatic Therapy
*Cerebellar Injury
*Cerebral Palsy
*Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
*Down Syndrome
*Hypotonia
*Juvenile Rheumatoid/Idiopathic Arthritis
*Mitochondrial Disorder
*Orthopedic Concerns
*Prader Willi
*Spina Bifida
*Traumatic Brain Injury
*ANY PATIENT, without contraindication, that possesses impairments that can effectively addressed in an aquatic medium as a supplement to land-based therapy
TOP 10 Impairments Addressed by Aquatic Therapy
*Impaired strength and head/trunk control
*Decreased range of motion
*Abnormal tone and syndergistic patterns
*Decreased balance
*Gait training
*Weightbearing restrictions
*Impaired coordination
*Sensory integration difficulties
*Impaired Endurance
*Pain
Information compiled from:
Cameron MH. Physical Agents in Rehabilitation: From Research to Practice - 2nd edition. 2003.
Aquatic Sensory Integration for the Pediatric Patient - Continuing Education
This summer has provided me with the opportunity to work with more patients in the water. Along with other pediatric physical therapists and pediatric occupational therapists, we have taken to the new facility quite well.
Child and Family Development has worked with the Harris YMCA in Charlotte, North Carolina to develop a schedule in which there are specified areas in the warm indoor pool exclusively for pediatric aquatic therapy. The Harris YMCA has a wonderful set-up that allows me to work with children in various aquatic environments. Most importantly the pool temperature is set at a warm therapeutic level to allow for muscle relaxation and reduce tonal tendencies. The children can enter the pool down a ladder, by zero entry, in a water wheelchair, or down a portable flight of stairs.
The indoor pool goes from zero depth to 6 feet. There is also a whirlpool area that I utilize in ambulation training with the assistance of the water and strength training against the resistance of the water.
We're making waves!
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