By MARCELLA PEYRE-FERRY, Special to the Local News
08/17/2008
WEST BRADFORD — The Olympic games have inspired some young riders with disabilities to strive for extra accomplishments last week during their therapy sessions at Quest Therapeutic Services.
Quest uses horseback riding as a tool for physical therapy and therapeutic riding for young people ages 2 to 21. This week, the center has adapted its hippotherapy program to include exercises that the children can compare to what they see at the Olympics.
The therapy sessions have adapted to include mounted and unmounted games kicking off with a torch relay, using a simulated torch with tissue paper flames. Gold medals are given out daily to riders for executing swimming strokes with their arms while mounted, playing equestrian games and doing gymnastics.
Other mounted games on the horses include relays, basketball toss and jumps. There are also children's games on the ground, including softball, soccer, tennis, and track-and-field activities.
The addition of the games is intended to encourage children with special needs to meet goals on their individual treatment plans and bring excitement to their therapy.
"We use the horse as a tool as part of the therapy program," said founder and President Sandra McCloskey.
The program anticipates 160 young people will participate in the special events over two weeks.
"It helps to motivate them to reach their goals," McCloskey said. "They're getting really into the spirit of this. This is their day to be in the Olympics."
Hippotherapy at Quest Therapeutic Services is designed to enhance the development of children with special needs. Licensed pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapists serve children with diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism and developmental delays. Many volunteers also work to make the program possible, because it takes three people on the ground to assist every student on horseback.
Parents were enthusiastic about the program and how Quest has helped their children. "After less than six months, he's doing much better. He's very happy," said Seema Nayak of Malvern, whose son, Aashay, is benefiting from his sessions at Quest.
Aashay is weaker on one side of his body. But since he started the hippotherapy, he has begun to use his weaker arm and leg more.
"It's a big change for him," said Seema Nayak.
Lee Law of West Chester is a pediatric physical therapist who brings her 10-year-old son, Ryan, to Quest. "It's made a tremendous difference in his head control and support in his trunk," she said. "He gets excited about this as opposed to other therapies."
Parents Lee and Steve Law, along with Ryan's sister and aunt, watched from the lounge area while Ryan turned in different directions in the saddle, road over rails on the ground that simulates jumps and tossed nerf balls and bean bags at targets from the back of the patient pony.
One of the big benefits of hippotherapy is that the motion of the horse helps work muscles that do not otherwise get any stimulation.
"I think you get a lot out of a session because it works him all over," Law said. "It's something different from conventional therapy that you can work on all the things at the same time."
WEST BRADFORD — The Olympic games have inspired some young riders with disabilities to strive for extra accomplishments last week during their therapy sessions at Quest Therapeutic Services.
Quest uses horseback riding as a tool for physical therapy and therapeutic riding for young people ages 2 to 21. This week, the center has adapted its hippotherapy program to include exercises that the children can compare to what they see at the Olympics.
The therapy sessions have adapted to include mounted and unmounted games kicking off with a torch relay, using a simulated torch with tissue paper flames. Gold medals are given out daily to riders for executing swimming strokes with their arms while mounted, playing equestrian games and doing gymnastics.
Other mounted games on the horses include relays, basketball toss and jumps. There are also children's games on the ground, including softball, soccer, tennis, and track-and-field activities.
The addition of the games is intended to encourage children with special needs to meet goals on their individual treatment plans and bring excitement to their therapy.
"We use the horse as a tool as part of the therapy program," said founder and President Sandra McCloskey.
The program anticipates 160 young people will participate in the special events over two weeks.
"It helps to motivate them to reach their goals," McCloskey said. "They're getting really into the spirit of this. This is their day to be in the Olympics."
Hippotherapy at Quest Therapeutic Services is designed to enhance the development of children with special needs. Licensed pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapists serve children with diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism and developmental delays. Many volunteers also work to make the program possible, because it takes three people on the ground to assist every student on horseback.
Parents were enthusiastic about the program and how Quest has helped their children. "After less than six months, he's doing much better. He's very happy," said Seema Nayak of Malvern, whose son, Aashay, is benefiting from his sessions at Quest.
Aashay is weaker on one side of his body. But since he started the hippotherapy, he has begun to use his weaker arm and leg more.
"It's a big change for him," said Seema Nayak.
Lee Law of West Chester is a pediatric physical therapist who brings her 10-year-old son, Ryan, to Quest. "It's made a tremendous difference in his head control and support in his trunk," she said. "He gets excited about this as opposed to other therapies."
Parents Lee and Steve Law, along with Ryan's sister and aunt, watched from the lounge area while Ryan turned in different directions in the saddle, road over rails on the ground that simulates jumps and tossed nerf balls and bean bags at targets from the back of the patient pony.
One of the big benefits of hippotherapy is that the motion of the horse helps work muscles that do not otherwise get any stimulation.
"I think you get a lot out of a session because it works him all over," Law said. "It's something different from conventional therapy that you can work on all the things at the same time."
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