rehabilitation & therapy
PHYSICAL THERAPY :: PEDIATRIC
Trinity's pediatric therapists treat clients from immediately after birth up to 21 years of age. These clients may have a variety of difficulties with mobility, fine gross motor skills, sensory integration, and eating disorders. Our pediatric physical therapist and occupational therapist treat the child individually or as a team to improve the child's quality of life.
Services provided by our pediatrics department include: • Early intervention in conjunction with the Minot Infant Development Program
The Trinity Hippotherapy program in cooperation with the Diamond R therapeutic riding program has been going strong since 1993. The Diamond R Therapeutic Riding Program proudly follows the NARHA guidelines and is listed on the NARHA website. The program has been a great additional tool that is fun and exciting for young people who need help from physical and occupational therapy. The following pictures and definitions explain more about this program.
What is Hippotherapy? As defined by the American Hippotherapy Association, hippotherapy is a term that refers to the use of the movement of the horse as a treatment tool by Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists to address impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities in patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. Hippotherapy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes. In hippotherapy, the patient engages in activities on the horse that are enjoyable and challenging. In the controlled hippotherapy environment, the therapist modifies the horse's movement and carefully grades sensory input. Specific riding skills are not taught (as in therapeutic horseback riding). Rather, a foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing. This foundation can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities. Why the horse? The horse's walk improves sensory input through movement, which is variable, rhythmic, and repetitive. The resultant movement responses in the patient are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. The variability of the horse's gait enables the therapist to grade the degree of sensory input to the patient, and then use this movement in combination with other treatment strategies to achieve desired results. Patients respond enthusiastically to this enjoyable experience in a natural setting. General Indications for Hippotherapy Children and Adults with: • Mild to severe neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction Medical Conditions The primary medical conditions, which may manifest some or all of the above problems and may be indications for hippotherapy are listed below. • Cerebral Palsy Trinity Health's specially trained health professionals must evaluate each potential patient on an individual basis before starting the program. For more information, please call our outpatient physical therapy program at 857-5286 and ask about our hippotherapy program.
Pediatric Physical Therapy
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