Teaching Motor Skills to Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents And Professionals (Paperback)

~ (Author) "During the first year of life, some babies show a delay in motor development..." (more)
Key Phrases: similar movement disorders, bunny position, tall kneel, Frequently Asked Questions, Gross Motor Function Classification System, Calf Muscle Stretch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent reference for daily intervention to help a child reach his motor potential and become more independent." -- Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association NewsNetwork, Volume 14, Number 3, Summer/Autumn 2006

"This text is practical, caring, comprehensive, authoritative and reasonably priced." -- ADVANCE for Physical Therapists & PT Assistants, October 9, 2006

"[A] wealth of ways to promote good movement learning and many play ideas..." -- SCOPE (Cerebral Palsy Association of UK)

"These chapters contain numerous helpful photographs that illustrate the exercises, with suggestions of how to incorporate the use of toys to interest the children." --CAPHIS Consumer Connections

"This text is practical, comprehensive, authoritative, and reasonably priced." --ADVANCE for Physical Therapists & PT Assistants, October 9, 2006

The book is lavishly illustrated with black and white photographs throughout and the language is clear and simple for the non-specialist to understand. With a wealth of ways to promote good movement learning and many play ideas, the book is a must for parents and professionals alike and will be invaluable for any service wanting to include a child with cerebral palsy.

I highly recommend this book for any new parent of a child with developmental disabilities. It provides parents with a clear description of what they can expect for their child's motor development in the years ahead. --Physical Therapy, Volume 87, Number 7, July 2007

Product Description

(2007 Independent Publisher Award Bronze Medalist, Health/Medicine/Nutrition category)

All children with cerebral palsy and other conditions that result in gross motor delays need help and reinforcement to learn basic motor skills, usually with assistance from a physical therapist. Because the degree of developmental delay varies greatly from child to child, a thorough motor evaluation is an important step before establishing a specific therapy plan.

This new guide, written by an experienced physical therapist, provides parents with a complete understanding of how the physical characteristics of cerebral palsy and similar conditions--muscle tightness and weakness, increased or decreased flexibility, abnormal reflexes, impaired sensory perception--affect a child's ability to sit, crawl, stand, and walk.

With that foundation established, the book offers dozens of practical, easy-to-follow exercises that address specific areas of motor delay and development, including:
Head control;
Muscle tone;
Proper positioning;
Involuntary movements;
Stretching and flexibility;
Balance and coordination;
Strength training.

The exercises are illustrated with photos, and many present one or two variations, which take into account a child s preferences and skill level. Additionally, every chapter includes profiles of children in therapy, and a set of frequently asked questions on the chapter topic.

With Teaching Motor Skills, parents will be more knowledgeable about their child's unique set of strengths and weaknesses, and better able to contribute to his motor development. As the book emphasizes, learning new skills depends upon many factors, including the reinforcement of at-home therapy and good cooperation and communication between a child s physical therapist and parents.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Woodbine House; 1 edition (July 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890627720
• ISBN-13: 978-1890627720
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #135,063 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Guide for Parents and Grandparents, November 29, 2006

By	Theresa Morris (Medford, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Teaching Motor Skills to Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents And Professionals is the first parent tool I have seen that really breaks therapy down in a simple way that makes one feel "I can do this". As a grandparent of a child with CP, I have often been frustrated by a lack of resources that show details like this book. There are many pictures throughout that indicate how to do exercises and movements. I especially liked the guide that helps place where the child is at developmentally as related to other children with CP. Some sort of a yard stick like this has been missing in any other books I have read. I am EXCITED to try all the things in the book. There is a progression to the book that allows baby steps and an idea of what comes next in physical therapy. WOW! Thank you!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books on the Treatment of CP, October 5, 2006

By	Gretta M. Farley (Statesboro, GA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What an excellent new resource this author has provided us with! This book is very well organized and thoughtfully researched to provide the most updated information and answers to parents most burning questions as well as give ideas and advice to parents and professionals. Most books focus heavily on the difference between normal motor development (some of which children with CP will not be able to achieve) and the motor and muscle abnormalities of children with CP but are usually not as positive as this one. I especially enjoyed the optimism with which this book was written and the guidelines it gave for reaching realistic goals. It was niceto see a discussion of newer treatments such as SDR and ITB Therapies as well. Destined to become a classic work!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instructional reference guide to anyone with a motor skills impaired child, August 6, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Teaching Motor Skills To Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide For Parents And Professionals by Sieglinde Martin (a physical therapist with more than thirty years experience working with children having cerebral palsy) is a superbly organized and expertly presented "hands-on" resource specifically designed for parents, therapists, and other caregivers working with young children exhibiting gross motor delays for the purpose of providing such youngsters with motorskills practice outside of formal therapy sessions. The outlined and illustrated exercises include the issues of head control, protective reactions, proper positioning, independent sitting (with and without arm support), transitional movements, daily stretching, improving muscle strength and coordination, balance training, and gait training. Included in the text are anecdotes and the answers to frequently asked questions. Teaching Motor Skills To Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders is confidently recommended as an instructional reference guide to anyone with a motor skills impaired child.