Dr. Susan Hastings is a physical therapist who stumbled upon the hidden potential of the spinal cord in treating children with cerebral palsy. In her quest to understand what she was seeing clinically, she found Dr. Reggie Edgerton, a pioneer in the field of spinal cord injury recovery. Together they have been exploring the potential of spinal neuromodulation to drive recovery in children with cerebral palsy. Their work is set to change the way we think about rehabilitation in cerebral palsy, and in this interview we dig into the history, feasibility, theories and implications of spinal neurorehabilitation. You'll find links and resources discussed in this interview at https://www.wiredondevelopment.com

Spinal Neuromodulation in Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation

A collection of knowledge and insights from brilliant clinicians in the field of neuromotor development and childhood disability to inspire, motivate and provide you with the tools to help the amazing kids you treat develop their potential www.wiredondevelopment.com

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More than a decade ago, I asked a question which finally gets answered today. The question was

'Why, despite the poor evidence, do intelligent, scientifically minded, educated and experienced therapists still value it?

Or do they?'

Prof Margaret Mayston exemplifies the intelligent, scientifically minded, educated and experienced therapist.

She trained initially as a physiotherapist in Melbourne, Australia, and then specialised in childhood neurodisability at the Bobath centre in London before pivoting to a career in science by the completion of an MSc in Human & Applied Physiology (Kings College London), a PhD in neurophysiology, and a 3-year Wellcome Trust funded postdoctoral fellowship, both at University College London (UCL).

She has combined her clinical and academic careers, and is currently a Professor (teaching) in the Division of Biosciences at UCL teaching neuroscience and general physiology on undergraduate programmes. She also gives sessions on Typical Child Development for the MSc Advanced Pediatrics (UCL) and as a Senior Bobath Tutor (pediatrics) she also teaches on Foundation courses globally and is involved in tutor training.

We cover so much more than Bobath therapy in this interview, from basic physiology to philosophy and everything in between, but essentially this interview explores why the call to deimplement Bobath NDT is so misguided and captures why intelligent, scientifically minded, educated and experienced therapist think all over the world think the call to deipmlement Bobath NDT is not only ignorant and misguided, but detrimental to our profession as a whole, and a disservice to the kids and families that we are tasked with caring for.

Check out the resouces and article discussed in this paper https://www.wiredondevelopment.com

Specializing in Neudodisability: Bobath Therapy for Pediatric PTs and OTs

Interoception is a key sense that has been widely studied for decades but is only now making its way into clinical applications and Kelly Mahler is an amazing occupational therapists who is leading the way both clinically and academically in understanding the role of this key sense for occupational and physical therapists working in neurodevelopment. Don't miss this practice changing conversation on how we should think about interoception in our clinical work. It's jam packed with practical ideas and actions that we can take back to the clinic right now. 

I know you’re going to love it! 

Enjoy!

Interoception in neurodevelopment for Occupational and Physical Therapists

A passionate and engaging conversation with Dr Julie Vaughan-Graham, PT, PhD, Advanced IBITA Instructor, Adjunct Clinical Professor at McMaster University and University of Toronto, Canada and Founder of Physio-Logic and iNeuroRehab . Julie shares insights from her research on the Bobath concept, and the importance of postural control, selective movement and movement variability and efficiency. We discuss clinical reasoning, the challenges of research, and the future of physio/ physical therapy. If you've ever had questions about the state of the evidence in this area of practice, you're going to find this conversation enlightening. You can find all the resources mentioned in the discussion at https://www.wiredondevelopment.com 

The Evidence and the Practice of Bobath / NDT with Julie Vaughan-Graham, PT, PhD

In the evolving landscape of pediatric neurorehabilitation, the emergence of therapeutic coaching has marked a paradigm shift. This approach, which marries therapeutic principles with the empowering dynamics of coaching, is designed to effect profound, tangible changes in the lives of children and their families. Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) is a distinctive coaching methodology that positions families and goal setting at the heart of therapeutic interventions. 



The mind behind this transformative approach is Dr. Fiona Graham (Fi), an occupational therapist who has developed, taught, and researched OPC. Her work presents a mix of deep expertise and a passion for supporting children's success in everyday life. 



If you've ever wondered about the potential of therapeutic coaching in pediatric neurorehabilitation, this interview is a must-listen. Dive into this conversation with me as I explore the nuances, challenges, and benefits of an evidence based approach to therapeutic conversations, coaching and therapy in neurodisability. 

Empowering Conversations: A Deep Dive into Occupational Peformance Coaching for Pediatric Occupational and Physical Therapists

Gerti Motavalli and Dr. Alon share their  insights into the work they have been doing with non-invasive spinal stimulation that is changing the lives of many children with Spina Bifida.  We dig into both the theoretical and practical application of this this protocol, as well as how it compares to other electrical stimulation approaches in pediatrics. 

With decades of experience and a background spanning multiple countries, Gerti and Dr. Alon bring a wealth of knowledge along and practical experiences to this fascinating topic. 

Grab more resources at https://www.wiredondevelopment.com and enjoy the learning!

Spinal Neuromodulation in Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation

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