Sitting Study – Therapy Helps Children Overcome Motor Delays
A medical breakthrough is underway at the Nebraska Medical Center as researchers try to help children with cerebral palsy and other motor delays live a normal life.
The goal of the study is to help these children by learning a basic movement.
At 18 months, Robin Ventura couldn’t crawl, eat by himself or even play without someone holding him up. Cerebral palsy slowed his ability to sit.
“A typically developing baby could do it, no problem,” said physical therapist Reggie Harbourne.
Harbourne says the act of sitting is the foundation for nearly every motor and cognitive development.
Harbourne takes Ventura through a series of revolutionary physical therapy routines she believes will help teach him how to sit.
Sam Hardy recently completed three months of Harbourne’s program.
“It’s just so great, because he is so much more independent when he learned to sit and obvious, he’s crawling and pulling himself up now,” said Paige Hardy, Sam’s mother. “We just really feel without that he would not be where he is today.”
Ventura’s parents are hoping their son will have similar results.
Harbourne is still in the beginning stages of her study, but she hopes the progress they make now will make a difference for children in the years to come.
