SHORT TERM GOALS:
Stand in good alignment without assistance – MET.
LONG TERM GOALS:
Develop movements to assist in transitioning from one position to another using good alignment and good trunk rotation.
PARTIALLY MET – Taylor is able to transition fairly quickly from position to position however, her physical therapist noted that she “continues to lack some strength and stability that provides for safety in a school setting where she could be easily pushed, fall and/or hurt herself.”
NEARLY MET – Taylor is able to come to a full stand through half-kneel with minimum assistance.
MET – Taylor is now walking independently (praise God) however her balance and posture continues to need improvement while walking; in addition, the therapist noted that “Taylor will face some safety issues both in the classroom and on the playground” making it imperative that Taylor continues to receive ongoing physical therapy until she has further mastered her walking and her balance while walking.
PHYSICAL THERAPY GOALS FOR 2008-2009:
The physical therapist has outlined several new goals for Taylor for the remainder of this year and early next year:
1. Taylor will build continued strength and balance when walking and will progress to running, hopping and jumping.
2. Taylor will gain continued trunk strength to do several 2-foot hops simultaneously.
While these seem like fairly small, easily accomplished movements, for Taylor, it's not.
We basically have to break down each desired goal and movement into great levels of the most minute detail and sequencing and then have to facilitate one muscle movement to another again using the right sequencing and form...it involves a lot of repetition to create just the right movement patterning so that Taylor learns to associate how one movement varies over another and how one movement has to occur versus how another movement does. As we do the movements over and over and over and over again, Taylor begins to create "muscle memory" so to speak in how to move, in how to coordinate her movements, etc. and over time (what sometimes, as her mommy, feels like a really long time), Taylor then begins to master the movement on her own in a way that is desirable and in a way that is "normal" looking. And, looking "normal" is always our underlying goal of every physical therapy goal and activity that Taylor is a part of.
I continue to be amazed at how far we've come and how much farther we still need to take her! I also continue to be amazed at the physiology of it all!!!!! The body truly is an amazing thing....
So, while I am really pleased with Taylor’s overall progress to date….because there was a time when I thought she might never walk…and she is now walking independently….there is still so much more work to be done!
The physical therapist is recommending that Taylor continues to receive physical therapy at the clinic twice a week to further improve Taylor’s motor abilities and to help her progress further towards overcoming her disability. (Of course, I am completely on board with that and am 100% committed to following whatever program Taylor’s physical therapist advises). Maintaining Taylor’s physical therapy, at such a young age, will only continue to help her build the right foundation allowing her to continue to advance and eventually successfully overcome her disability as well as keep up with her peers physically, educationally, emotionally, and socially.
