Frequently Asked Question #1

Someone just asked me a great question via e-mail and I thought I would share the question and my answer.

Question:

How long after an injury can the TheraSuit still be beneficial?

My Answer: 

The TheraSuit method, and therapy in general, does not depend on how long its been since the initial injury.  We used to think that for a lot of neurological injuries that the first 2 years were important and after that, progress would taper off.  The research is now telling us that there is almost ALWAYS potential for improvement.

One of the important things in any kind of therapy is having meaningful goals. 

So the question I would then pose to you, is, what are one or two goals you and your child would have in terms of gross motor progress would make the child’s life better?  It could be something like better head control, to walk longer, to stand etc. 

And then, my next question what could the child participate in by using this skill that would be meaningful to him or yourself?  For example, more head control so he/she could watch the X games, or he/she can walk longer so he can walk into WalMart with a walker instead of being pushed in a wheelchair.

It is my experience that having a meaningful goal will influence the progress much more than how long it has been since the initial injury.

It makes sense, even for us.  If I have a goal to get up at 5am every morning to run 45 minutes, unless I have a good reason WHY I am doing it ( for example to prepare for a marathon on a certain date, or to meet my friend to go running with her), I will most likely sleep in instead of run.

Motivation is a huge factor, and that motivation is not affected greatly by cognitive ability, it affected most by a desire to do something.

Hope that helps!