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Developmental Movement Therapy
Premise: The brain has a built-in self-organizing potential to activate repair of nerve
pathways, activated by input from the body. The Institute has a chart that shows developmental stages of the receptive and expressive aspects of the nervous system. Intake workups evaluate where there is incomplete development of pathways (or where function has regressed). Treatment is designed to complete what they call "unfinished work" and rebuild pathways to control functions that are incomplete or absent. Crawling, creeping and cross pattern exercises have led to improvement in a variety of problems: stroke, coma, auto accidents, ADD, hormonal dysregulation post trauma, and more.
Implications: After trauma to the central nervous system, regain of function can be
enhanced by retracing physical movements and body positions that ordinarily are experienced as the infant/child develops. Even elderly patients have had benefit from doing the patterning, crawling, creeping exercises. They have some impressive videos of patients who underwent this therapy.
Contact Information Developmental Therapy and Education Institute, Seattle.
Director: Bette Lamont, DMT. (206)525-8038. Bette was my teacher and has seen many cases of brain damage helped by doing the appropriate exercises.
Related Topics: As I see it, the body movements pull on the fascia, and this in turn
causes movement in the craniosacral system. So patients would probably benefit from craniosacral therapy at the same time.
My Own Experience: I have taken basic training in this therapy, seen videos and
heard case reviews of patients who have benefitted from this. I have also assisted in the exercise program of some patients. |