Cerebral Palsy Case Study
by Liz James - 8th
January 2010
Nathan is a delightful 5 ˝ year-old
boy who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at around 6 months old.
Nathan gets himself around primarily
by crawling which he manages very well, also being able to roll
himself over on the floor. He presents with decreased core
stability causing a general flexed upper body whilst sitting and
walking (in his K-walker). He has an unbalanced gait pattern with
reduced muscle tone in his lower limbs. A reduction in muscle tone
is also apparent in his upper limbs in particular his right “sleepy”
hand, affecting his grasping and gripping activities.
Liz has been giving Nathan regular
treatments using both the Bowen and Emmett Techniques since August
2009. Immediately following his very first session Nathan’s legs
were straighter, his mother and grandparents noticed his balance had
begun to improve and he was trying more frequently to use his right
“sleepy” hand.
Now after 9 sessions Nathan’s
progress is quite noticeable. These are the great achievements to
date:
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Better hip extension
improving high kneeling ability
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Improved position in
his 4-point kneeling, more upright when sitting back on his
buttocks
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Now able to kneel up
whilst simultaneously clapping his hands above his head
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Continual improvement
in core stability, balance and posture
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Walking better in his
K-walker, raising his knees higher
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Improved foot flexion
-
Improved body
alignment - very straight legs when lying down
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Increased usage of his
right “sleepy” hand with easier ability grasping and gripping
items with his fingers
Nathan’s family and friends are
amazed at the difference they see. His grandmother states: “It is
so wonderful watching Nathan’s confidence growing in between Liz’s
treatments. His progression is rapidly spurring him on and he is
now trying that much harder. The easier the actions become, the
more he wants to do them, e.g. standing up from a knelt position,
leaning against a chair, sofa or table. In recent weeks, Nathan has
been constantly requesting to walk, either with assistance or in his
K-walker and he now takes great delight in side stepping around my
dining room table with no assistance at all. The words ‘I can’t’
are a thing of the past which is just lovely! Nathan attends Three
Ways School where he has always had regular physiotherapy. Botox
injections were administered in his feet in August 2008 and 2009.
However, the changes in his functional abilities have been most
rapid since receiving the Bowen and Emmett work.
I am so looking forward to the day I
see him walk unaided - I am sure it will happen……..”
Nathan’s grandmother, Lynne, did the
Emm-Tech course with Liz in 2009 and administers some of the muscle
releases on Nathan when able. Her “tool box of moves” has also been
useful for Nathan’s younger brother who has respiratory problems.
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Two photos showing Nathan's
posture and useless "sleepy" hand before receiving any
Bowen/Emmett treatment. |
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Increased usage of a not so
"sleepy" hand (Dec 2009) |
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Now able to stand on his own with
support
of a table or chair (Jan 2010) |
Eager to practice walking around
the table
(Jan 2010) |
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showing Nathan's improved
posture,
new core strength, stability and
balance
(Feb 2010) |
Nathan enjoying his new grasping
and
gripping abilities (Feb 2010) |
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