Introduction to Motor Intensive Program utilizing the Therasuit
History:
In 2001, the therasuit was designed and patented by Izabela and Richard Koscielny. The therasuit is a vest, shorts, and knee pads connected by elastic bands. Through the system of elastic rubber bands, a patient’s body is aligned as close to normal as possible. This restoration of posture and proper function of postural muscles allows the patient to learn (or re-learn) proper patterns of movement.
The motor intensive program typically consists of therapy 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, for three weeks. The program is tailored for each patient to meet their physical and time needs.
A typical day consists of:
- Set up to prepare the body for work
- Child spends about one hour in the Therasuit
- Exercise in the universal exercise unit (a system utilizing weights and pulleys to strengthen muscles)
- Swimming in the therapeutic pool
Therasuit benefits include:
- Re-trains central nervous system
- Provides external stabilization
- Normalizes muscle tone
- Aligns the body to as close to normal as possible
- Provides dynamic correction
- Corrects gait pattern
- Provides tactile stimulation
- Influences the vestibular system
- Improves balance and coordination
- Decreases uncontrolled movements in ataxia and athetosis
- Improves body and spatial awareness
- Supports weak muscles
- Provides resistance to strong muscles to further increase strengthening
- Promotes development of fine and gross motor skills
- Improves bone density
- Helps improve hip alignment through vertical loading over the hip joint
Children/ Adults that benefit from Therasuit:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental delays
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Post stroke (CVA)
- Ataxia
- Athetosis
- Spasticity (increased muscle tone)
- Hypotonia (low muscle tone)
TheraSuit Method Part 1
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TheraSuit Method Part 2
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For more information on the Therasuit, please visit www.suittherapy.com