Arizona Cerebral Palsy

Traditional and Alternative Therapies O-Z

Where available we will list providers in Arizona for each topic.
*Please note: a treatment being listed here does not indicate our endorsement of the treatment. Please do your own thorough research before trying any of them.
If you have updated information on providers for any of the treatments listed here or new treatments please contact us so we can keep our list up to date. If you have tried any of these treatments and would like to add a comment, please contact us.


 

A Short History of Medicine
I have an earache ....
2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. - That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.
1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.
1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D. - That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.
.....(author unknown)

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Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists help people whose lives have been disrupted by physical injuries, accidents, birth defects, aging, emotional problems, or developmental problems. They use purposeful activity - activity which is meaningful to the person and aimed at achieving a goal - to help people develop or regain the skills they need to learn, play, earn a living, and take care of themselves.
Arizona Ocupational Therapy Association (602)345-8169
Henry Occupational Therapy Services Inc.

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Orthopedic Interventions
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Customshoes.com-custom orthotics, shoes and leather braces-Mesa AZ
Shriner's-Los Angeles

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Ostopathy
Doctors of osteopathy (D.O.'s) treat the body as a whole, often focusing attention on the bones and muscles to find the underlying cause of an ailment.
FAQ
Osteopathic Center for Children

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Physical Therapy
Information and referral regarding PT
Arizona Physical Therapy Association: 1-800-264-APTA(2782)

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Recreational Therapy
"A recreational therapist may use a wide range of intervention techniques to meet the needs of each child. After completing a comprehensive assessment, the recreational therapist identifies appropriate treatment goals. Examples of interventions used by a recreational therapist might include: leisure skill building, adaptive sports, aquatic therapy, therapeutic art, animal assisted therapy, sensory stimulation, medical play, community reintegration outings, and others." from an article by Laurie Jake CTRS- Arizona
Az State Recreational Therapy Association

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Reflexology
A method of massage that relieves nervous tension through the application of finger pressure, especially to the feet.

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Rolfing
Rolfing involves a form of deep tissue work for reordering the body so as to bring its major segments—head, shoulder, thorax, pelvis, and legs—into a finer vertical alignment. The technique loosens or releases adhesions in the fascia, the flexible tissue that envelops our muscles and muscle groups. The fascia is supposed to move easily and allow easy articulation or movement of muscles or muscle groups past each other. However, trauma such as injury or chronic stress can cause stuck points or adhesions, in which the fascia is in a sense frozen, not allowing full freedom of movement. The Rolfer works to restore this freedom of movement, resulting in a more balanced, vertical alignment of the body and often a lengthening or expansion of the body's trunk.
Caring Hands Therapeutic Massage
(602)334-0006
The Centre for Rolfing
(602)494-3037

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Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR)
"Of all the surgical procedures currently performed on patients with cerebral palsy, selective dorsal rhizotomy has undergone more thorough scientific scrutiny than any other (including orthopaedic). Accumulated evidence and our own experience indicate that SDR is an excellent option for selected patients with spastic CP. We think parents and patients need to inquire about SDR as a part of the management of CP."-Center for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity
Kim's Rhizotomy Journal An Arizona girl's story!
Visit Center for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity Rhizotomy Info This site has everything you need to know about the procedure and candidate selection process.
Dylan Shaw's Diary
Adam's Journal

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Sensory Integration
"Difficult." "Picky." "Oversensitive." "Clumsy." "Unpredictable." "Inattentive." Children who have been labeled with words like these may actually be suffering from Sensory Integration Disorder-a very common, but frequently misdiagnosed, condition that can manifest itself in excessively high or low activity levels, problems with motor coordination, oversensitivity or undersensitivity to sensations and movements, and other symptoms.
-from the book: Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing & Coping with Sensory Integration Dysfunction

Henry Occupational Services Inc.
Sensory Comfort-products
Sensory Integration International

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Speech/Language Therapy
A speech-language pathologist is a professional trained at the master's or doctoral level to evaluate and help the child or adult with an articulation problem as well as other speech and/or language disorders. The speech-language pathologist should be certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and/or licensed by your state. The speech-language pathologist can also give you guidance or provide services to help prevent or eliminate a problem. Early help is especially important for more severe problems.
Payson Az Therapy & Rehab

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Tamo Therapy
TAMO is a new therapy approach to movement organization. It is applied to neurologically and also orthopaedically based movement disorders. This method was developed by Ingrid Tscharnuter, physiotherapist and founder of TAMOTM, the Tscharnuter Akademie for Movement Organization, Mt. Sinai, New York. Since 1991 TAMO is taught internationally at conferences, at Universities and in postgraduate courses.-Tamo.com
Tamo Therapy

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TES
TES treatment involves placeing electrodes at prescribed places on the surface of the skin over muscle, and then stimulating the muscle with a small electrical current for 5 to 8 hours a night while the client sleeps. Clients can control the amount of stimulation. The electrical charge is painless and is felt, if at all, as a slight "tickle." The stimulator is a battery-operated device run on one 9-volt or three AA batteries, which need to be replaced from every few days to two weeks, acccording to the amount of power needed by the individual. TES is not used alone. It is a special technique added to an overall rehabilitation program.-Ruth Wyler
Mayatek.com

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Vision
Low Vision Support Group- Mesa AZ (480)380-0962
Foundation for Blind Children
Vision Net Links
3-D Eye Exercises, Vision Therapy, Visual Training, Eye Training,
Arizona Braille and Talking books

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Yoga
Yoga for the Special Child is an integrated system of yoga techniques designed to stimulate the cognitive and motor development of children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Attention Deficit Disorder and Learning Disabilities. For more info, visit: Yoga for the Special Child
*Recommended reading:Yoga for the Special Child
Certified practitioners in Arizona:
Bill Garrett-yoga therapist
Prescott AZ
(520)445-5160
Johanna Maheshvari Mosca PhD (520)282-9592
Jyotika (520)282-2125

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