Occupational Therapy / Physical Therapy

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Occupational Therapy / Physical Therapy

Cerebral Palsy Care

The Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy (OT/PT) at Cincinnati Children's offers extensive specialized services to maximize the best functional outcome for children with Cerebral Palsy.
What We Offer
Your child’s evaluation will include standardized testing using assessment tools specifically developed for use with Cerebral Palsy patients. These assessments are utilized as a standard practice by Cerebral Palsy specialists in order to establish baseline functioning in a standard method as well as to determine functional outcomes when appropriate.
At your child’s first treatment session, one of our occupational or physical therapists will develop a customized program based on your child’s comprehensive evaluation. The therapist works with you, your family and specialists from our team to plan a rehabilitation program that addresses your child’s specific needs. Throughout therapy, we re-examine and adjust the plan to meet the unique challenges each patient encounters. We continually reassess your child’s progress and share information with referring physicians and other members of the healthcare team.
Our staff, who are all licensed physical therapists or occupational therapists, work with each patient to address specific needs. Treatment for children with Cerebral Palsy may include one or more of the following:
OT Interventions
Activities of Daily Living (dressing, self-feeding, etc.)
Adaptive equipment and positioning
Aquatic therapy (upper extremity and core strength focus)
Armeo (Functional arm and hand therapy)
Assistive technology
CIMT (Constraint Induced Movement Therapy)
CVI (Cortical Visual Impairment) Evaluation
Cognitive skills training
Handwriting and written expression
Home modification/environmental modifications
Interactive metronome
Oral motor/feeding skills training
NMES/FES (Neuro Muscular Electrical Stimulation/Functional Electrical Stimulation)
Sensory processing
“SPIDER” - UEU (Universal Exercise Unit) for upper extremities
Tone management
Vestibular rehab
Visual motor and visual perceptual skills training
Upper extremity casting
Upper extremity orthotics
Upper extremity splinting
PT Interventions
Adaptive equipment and positioning
Aquatic Therapy (lower extremity and core strength focus)
Balance
Gait
Gait Analysis Lab
Home modification/environmental modifications
Lite Gait (Non-Robotic Partial Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training)
Locomotion
Lokomat (Robotic Partial Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training)
Lower extremity splinting
Lower extremity casting
Lower Extremity orthotics
Mobility
“SPIDER” - UEU for lower extremities
Tone management
A Family-Centered Focus – Partners in Care
Because children rely on those closest to them for support, we design our outpatient therapy programs to have a family focus. We encourage parents and caregivers to get involved and participate in therapy sessions
Specialty Programs

Show All

Armeo DILLO Program

Dynamic Intensive Light-weight upper Limb Orthosis – This OT treatment uses a spring-loaded device that minimizes the weight of the child’s arm during functional movements. The therapist is able to facilitate neuromuscular control through active movements generated by the client. The device embraces the whole arm, from the shoulder to the hand, and includes a pressure sensitive hand-grip for functional grasping tasks. Computer-based activities provide feedback during functional exercises to enhance patient motivation and participation in a 3-D workspace.

CIMT

This OT treatment is used to improve the use of the arm for children who have hemiplegia. CIMT limits the use of one arm (good function) while providing many opportunities to practice using the other arm (limited function). In this intensive program, a therapist will:
Identify the type of constraint to be used during your child's therapy
Provide a schedule for wearing the constraint
Identify and provide instruction on activities and exercises that your child will complete while wearing the constraint.

Interactive Metronome

This OT treatment is a computer based treatment used to work on motor planning and timing. The child tries to time hand and foot movements like clapping, with metronome beat heard through headphones. These exercises help improve attention, coordination, motor planning, and timing.

Lokomat “RoboDOG”

This PT program includes the child wearing a harness to be supported and suspended when walking over a treadmill. Using state-of-the-art technology by Lokomat, a child’s hips and legs are attached to robotic legs and are guided through the motion of walking over a treadmill. This intensive program is designed:
For children with moderate to severe motor impairments in their gait
As a 6-9 week program focusing on intensive, repetitive stepping and gait training
To be an active intervention! The Lokomat is not for passive movement. Children are encouraged to use their muscles and to step independently, while the therapist makes skillful adjustments to the robot.

ANIMAL

Ambulatory and Neuromuscular Impairment Motion Analysis Lab (ANIMAL) - The Ambulatory and Neuromuscular Impairment Motion Analysis Lab is a testing environment in which a child’s joints and muscles can be measured during daily activities such as standing, walking, and running. Special reflective markers (similar to a small marble) are placed on the child’s skin and a series of high-speed video cameras track these markers while he or she moves through the room. Wireless electrodes taped to the skin can simultaneously measure how muscles are working as the child moves. Additional equipment in the ANIMAL allow us to measure the strength of individual muscle groups and how a child’s body uses oxygen for different tasks.

UEU “SPIDER”

Our intensive OT and PT program for strengthening is called the SPIDER Program. This intensive program involves:
A Universal Exercise Unit (UEU), which includes pulley systems to improve strength and range
Using the dynamic suspension of the UEU to improve balance, coordination and sensory awareness.
Activities and exercises to help develop skills.
An individualized program for each child, designated to improve gross motor, fine motor and self-help skills.

Our therapists will address your child’s specific needs.

Our therapists will work with you, your family and specialists from our team to plan a rehabilitation program that addresses your child’s specific needs.
More Information

Facilities
General outpatient OT and PT services are offered at all eleven outpatient therapy locations. Specialty programs requiring specific equipment may only be available at certain locations.
Making an Appointment
We require a physician’s prescription or referral to participate in a cerebral palsy evaluation or therapy before you can make an appointment for your child. Cerebral Palsy care referrals may be faxed to 513-636-7975. For questions regarding Cerebral Palsy care or specialized cerebral palsy programs, call 513-636-2774 or email otpt@cchmc.org.

3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026 | 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462 | TTY:1-513-636-4900

New to Cincinnati Children’s or live outside of the tri-state area? 1-877-881-8479

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