Autistic Development Through Physical Therapy

Autism is a lifelong condition and physical therapy can help in multiple ways to keep patients of all ages healthy and maintain a better quality of life. Physical therapy is beneficial for:

• Improved Physical Conditioning
• Weight Control and Management
• Better Balance, Stability and Coordination
• Improved Eye-hand Coordination
• Better Interactive Skills
• Increased Fitness and Stamina
• Improved Body Awareness

Physical therapy may also have a positive effect on social behavior, sensory skills and communication. The development of motor skills is interconnected with social interactions, communication and sensory skills. Physical therapies provide ample opportunities for multiple types of interaction and communication.

There are no specific tests for ASD, but a variety of assessments are helpful in diagnosing autism and its severity. Parents often experience guilt that they didn't recognize the signs of autism in their child sooner, but they shouldn't. Autism symptoms can range from very mild to severe and many patients are high-functioning individuals who demonstrate few symptoms.

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Physical Therapy - Another Option for Living with Autism

Autism is often viewed as a condition of the mind, but it also has a strong physical component that can be addressed through physical therapy. People of all ages with autism often have difficulty with motor skills, along with issues concerning balance, coordination and muscle tone.

Patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) typically have movement related problems and the sooner that physical therapy intervention is introduced, the better able the therapist is able to counter many of the difficulties associated with ASD. Impaired communication skills in autism often result in restricted social interactions during which individuals would obtain physical activity.

ASD is far more likely to affect males. It results in delays in posture development, functionality, and motor skills. Early detection and diagnosis are essential, but the early signs of ASD are often overlooked or go unnoticed until a child fails to achieve milestone behaviors typical for their age.

People with autism often display repetitive behavior patterns that serve as self-stimulation such as rocking, spinning and hand flapping. Short attention spans for subjects that aren't preferred, along with obsessive interests in performing actions are common.

The specific causes of ASD are unknown, but the condition may have genetic, biological and environmental elements with symptoms that can be mild or very obvious. Autistic individuals of any age may have very specific routines they must follow when performing tasks such as getting dressed and can become agitated if those routines are disturbed.

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Solutions for Autism

Your physical therapist provides treatment for your child and works with you to understand the challenges your youngster faces. Strategies for continuing care at home will be provided and you'll learn about precautions you can take to set boundaries to keep children safe. Your physical therapist will also consult and work with teachers for accommodations that make life easier, safer, more comfortable, and promotes learning.

Children and adults with autism will benefit from a customized stretching and exercise program to meet the requirements of the individual, with options for modification as needed. Treatments will focus on maintaining muscle function and improving balance, coordination and stability. Assistance with mobility aids is also available.

Weight management can be difficult if you have autism. Physical therapists can help with nutritional advice and dietary supplements that help with weight control and address any deficiencies that may exist.

If you or your child has autism, your physical therapist has a wide variety of therapies and treatments to help in managing the condition, maintaining health, and helping with various facets of development. Treatments and strategies are designed to assist you or your child function at the highest level possible for success and an improved quality of life.

Our promise to you.
We will never settle for "average". It is our promise to provide and advance superior physical therapy services while adding uniquely specific and related services to serve the our community and surrounding region with the utmost quality.

Brain Changes and Fibromyalgia
The heightened stimulation of nerves that's present in fibromyalgia causes changes in the brain. Certain chemicals are present in higher levels than usual in the brain. Over time, the body's pain receptors become more sensitive and over react to any type of pain signal. Many fibromyalgia patients also experience an increased sensitivity to touch, odors, noise and light.

Physical therapy is effective for relieving the myriad of symptoms that accompany fibromyalgia. It can help:

• Relieve pain
• Better posture
• Improve muscle flexibility
• Maintain range of motion
• Build strength
• Reduce muscle tension
• Improve balance and coordination

Fibromyalgia is an elusive and chronic disease that's often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. It takes years for some patients to receive a definitive diagnosis. The combination of symptoms varies widely among individuals and can rapidly change within the space of a single day due to changes in the weather.

Let Physical Therapy Reduce Your Fibromyalgia Related Pain
Those who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia are happy to finally know what's wrong, but they're often depressed when they contemplate living with the condition. There's no cure for fibromyalgia, but physical therapy is effective in alleviating the symptoms and improving quality of life.

No one knows for sure what causes the disorder, but it's believed that fibromyalgia amplifies the way the brain processes pain signals. The condition is marked by pain, stiffness and fatigue. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and patients experience flare-ups during which symptoms worsen.

Sleep disorders and poor sleep quality due to restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea are common. Individuals experience mood and memory problems and have difficulty paying attention or concentrating. Other symptoms that individuals may experience include depression, cramping in the lower abdomen and headaches.

More women develop fibromyalgia than men. People who suffer from TMJ disorder, tension headaches, anxiety or depression, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to develop fibromyalgia, as are those with rheumatic diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Some cases of fibromyalgia can be linked to a trigger that includes excessive psychological stress, trauma to the mind or body, or an infection or surgery. Other instances are a collection of symptoms that accrue over time. The disorder tends to run in families, indicating a genetic link.

Professional Help For Fibromyalgia
You don't have to face the difficulties of fibromyalgia alone. Your physical therapist has therapies designed to ease pain that also helps keep you mobile. He/she can show you relaxation techniques to relieve the stress of living with a chronic and painful condition.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is obtain a neck and spinal alignment. The spine is the super highway of your body's neurological system and aligning the spine allows the body to better transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

Exercise is a key ingredient of fibromyalgia treatment to maintain muscle tone, neurological health and mobility. A customized program of exercise and stretching will be developed that factors in your pain and level of ability. The program will be one that can be modified as required to meet your changing needs. Assisted exercise is an option if you've lost muscle tone and strength.

Therapeutic massage has an extensive range of benefits that include reducing pain, promoting circulation and alleviating stress. It helps with detoxification and stimulates the immune system. Depending upon your symptoms, cold and cryotherapies can be employed to alleviate pain, swelling and inflammation, along with electrical nerve stimulation or ultrasound therapy.

Aqua therapy may also play a part in your treatment. Water is soothing to the body and mind. It buoys the body, making movement easier and less painful. It offers a type of resistance training that strengthens the body.

You'll encounter many challenges managing fibromyalgia and your physical therapist will be with you ever step of the way. Together, you can keep your muscles strong and active, relieve pain and get the sleep you need, and improve your level of function for an improved lifestyle.