LIST OF SERVICES

We offer many advanced programs for the recovery of movement and speech following a stroke or brain injury.

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) was first developed by Dr. Edward Taub at the University of Alabama, Birmingham over 30 years ago. Since then, over 70 articles have been published in scientific journals on the approach. The articles have shown that CIMT is effective for the recovery of movement in affected upper and lower extremities and speech after a stroke or other brain injury. Studies have shown that brain recovery (and therefore recovery of movement) occurs both in the damaged area as well as other areas leading us to believe that the brain may be able to recruit other parts of the brain to help the damaged area. There are minimal degrees of movement required for best results.

Using Dr. Taub's Adult CI Therapy program as a model, the Pediatric CI Therapy program was started years later. Dr. Stephanie DeLuca a developmental psychologist and Dr. Karen Echols a physical therapist and development psychologist have been involved in administering the Pediatric CI Therapy at the University of Alabama. Advanced Recovery's Pediatric CI Therapy program follows the University of Alabama program of 6 hours a day for 21 consecutive days with play-based and functional activities designed for the child's stage of development. The child's non-affected arm is casted from the upper arm to the tips of the fingers. The fiberglass cast is designed to be removable for weekly skin checks.

Physical Therapy Services for Adults and Children

CIMT for Upper Extremity

CIMT clients work six hours a day, five days a week for two to three weeks ideally with the unaffected extremity constrained using a soft mitt for adult clients and cast for pediatric clients for up to 90% of the day. This intensity of practice results in cortical reorganization promoting increased movement on the affected side.

CIMT for Lower Extremity

SaeboFlex™ for Functional Tone Management

The SaeboFlex™ is a dynamic splint that allows retraining of the arm, wrist and hand affected by stroke or brain-related injury. The device attaches to the forearm, hand and fingers to let you perform grasp and release exercises. The device has no motor or electrical parts but works by a system of springs. These springs work on the muscles that grip and helps open the hand and fingers. The SaeboFlex™ Orthosis is used in conjunction with CIMT principles if minimal movement requirements for CIMT are not yet met.

The SaeboFlex™ can be custom fitted for a young child. There are a few size limitations. Please call us for more details.

Treatment of Orthopedic Conditions

Orthopedic conditions such as joint replacements, fractures, sprains/strains, and surgeries are debilitating. Muscle weakness, pain, swelling, and stiffness are a few of the effects of orthopedic conditions. Our physical therapist evaluates and provides skilled treatments that strengthen muscles, decrease pain, and restore motion.

Treatment of Neurological Conditions

Injury, disease, and aging to the brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots disrupt communication between the brain and the muscles. This results in a localized or general loss of controlled movement and sensation. Physical therapy treatments focus on restoring function by facilitating pathways between the brain and the muscles.

Speech-Language Therapy Services

Constraint-Induced Aphasia Therapy (CIAT) utilizing Advanced Recovery’s exculsive treatment protocol:

Aphasia Rehabilitation with Re-learning Using Constraint Principles - (ARRC-P)

Advanced Recovery Rehabilitation Center was the first in the nation to offer Constraint-Induced Aphasia Therapy.

Based on CIMT principles, this new protocol (ARRC-P) is modified to treat aphasia by limiting the use of compensatory strategies such as writing, gesturing, drawing, etc. ARRC-P forces the brain to adapt and find an alternate way to express the idea—the goal being spoken words. ARRC-P does not use any type of physical constraint. It focuses mainly on expressive aphasia (problems getting words out) although those with moderate receptive aphasia (problems understanding) can still benefit.

Clients in the program receive treatment three and a half hours a day, five days a week for two to three weeks. Homework assignments each night and on weekends help you continue to practice. Constraining compensatory strategies combined with extensive and frequent treatments has the greatest effect on how much progress you can achieve. These same principles can also be used to treat apraxia and dysarthria.

Dysphagia Treatment - VitalStim®

Dysphagia (or swallowing problems) can be very dangerous and often lead to aspiration pneumonia. Swallowing happens in 3 stages and requires about 50 pairs of muscles. A disruption anywhere along the way can cause major or minor problems. We are proud to include VitalStim® therapy in our treatment program. Our speech therapists are trained to help you exercise and coordinate the muscles that need to be addressed and modify your diet in any way.

VitalStim® Website

Treatment for Expressive and Receptive Aphasia

Shorter non-CIAT treatments are available for the treatment of expressive and receptive aphasia. We use functional every-day activities that you can also do at home to maximize your progress.

Cognitive-Linguistic Training

Cognitive-linguistic problems can often be helped by Speech Therapy. Skills like concentration, memory, problem solving, and multi-tasking are all parts of high level language and we can design a program of exercises and activities that can help bring your thinking back into focus.

Treatment for Apraxia of Speech

Apraxia is the name for uncoordinated mouth muscles. When these muscles are not coordinated, the sounds needed to make understandable speech can be very limited. Improving coordination takes intense practice and many repetitions. We design a program that helps you work at home between therapy sessions to get the most progress possible.

Dysarthria Treatment

Dysarthria is the name for weak mouth muscles and often results in speech that sounds mumbled or slurred. Exercises for the specific muscles that are weak such as the front, middle, or back of the tongue, lips, or cheeks can improve strength and speech clarity. Our therapists are trained in identifying which specific muscles are weak and can design a program to target those muscles so that you get the maximum effect possible.