Submitted by M.W., Physical Therapist
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Confined to wheelchair due to right-sided weakness and balance problems | Walking without an assistive device for parts of her day |
| Stressed about returning to school after missing a year; working way too hard and falling apart emotionally | Seems happier, more emotionally stable, able to talk about her frustrations and what she wants for her future |
Alex is a 13-year-old girl diagnosed with posterior fossa syndrome following a brain tumor removal. She presents with right-sided weakness, speech problems, balance problems in quadruped, high kneeling and standing. She is undergoing chemotherapy weekly. She has problems with tone, ataxia of the right side, memory loss, and maintaining her weight.
Alex began rhythmic movements [from the Brain and Sensory Foundations course] in October of 2017. We have worked with developmental movements, reflex integration of the TLR [Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex], ATNR [Asymmetrical Tonic neck Reflex], Babinski and Palmer reflexes. We have used brain gym in most of our sessions.
Alex is a type-A individual. She wants to be the way she was before her surgery, especially with her school work. She was very stressed returning to school this fall after missing last year. She was working way too hard and was falling apart emotionally. My goal for her was to get her to laugh and play. I wanted her to relax and be well to get through her chemotherapy. The school reduced her course load.
I chose the Rhythmic Movements to help her relax, to get in her body and out of her head so to speak. The developmental movements were an ongoing part of her therapy as well as the brain gym. The reflex integration was chosen to help with reducing her ataxia, increasing her balance and reducing how hard she had to work. Alex has enjoyed the Rhythmic Movements. She prefers to have help with them. We have been doing them for 4 months consistently.
"She has gone from using a wheelchair to walking without an assistive device for parts of her day. She can squat and return to standing smoothly. She can stand for 18 seconds with both feet on a walking line. She seems happier, more emotionally stable, able to talk about her frustrations and what she wants for her future."
I used the 5-step balance process [from the Brain and Sensory Foundations course] with her regarding her frustration with not being able to keep pace with her peers at the level she was accustomed to. She ultimately participated in cheering and went to a competition. She was sad they did not get their usual place but on some level she is grieving what was and is constantly having to redefine herself. I feel like she has learned so much from the process. She is a go-getter, always pushing her edge. She cannot run or jump yet, but she is talking about signing up for softball in the spring. She is fortunate to be surrounded by a community who loves her and her spirit!
[Edited for length and clarity; emphasis added]