Movement with purpose- A children’s Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida program

Who we are:

First Steps Wellness Centre (FSWC), a non-profit organization, is one of Canada’s leading facilities for spinal cord injury and neuromuscular recovery.

How it all started:

First Steps Wellness Centre (FSWC) was approached by a family asking if we provide any services that could be used for their child who has cerebral palsy. The family explained that they have been in search of a program that will help correct their child’s movement patterns, improve function, and enhance quality of life. Unfortunately we did not have a program specific to these elements.  We started talking about it and realized, " why couldn’t we implement such a program?"  The elements wanted by the family, aligns perfectly with the views and goals FSWC already has in place.  And so began our search for an established and successful program designed specifically to improve functional movement and quality of life for children with neuromuscular or congenital disorders such as Cerebral Palsy or Spina Bifida.

Our research led us to a highly successful program called the TheraSuit Method®. Developed by two physiotherapists, this program is a unique and cutting edge service that is being used all around the world to improve a child’s functional movement. This creative approach is exactly the kind of program that can change a child’s life.

Stats

In a recent TheraSuit® study, the following astonishing results were reported:

• 92% of participants experienced functional improvements
  
• 90% learned to independently roll
  
• 75% learned to sit without assistance
  
• 30% learned to walk with an assistive device
  
• 21% gained the ability to walk independently
  

This method of training improves:

• co-ordination
  
• strength
  
• range of motion
  
• balance
  
• movement control
  
• independence
  

Traditional therapy assists people to adapt to life with a disability. FSWC along with  the TheraSuit Method®, aims to increase the function level of the child to improve  quality of life.  The TheraSuit® has been able to help children with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida learn or re-learn a movement in as little as 3 weeks as compared to traditional therapy where learning to do this same movement could take up to a year! There is no other program of this kind that is reporting such astounding results and that’s what really caught our eye.

We want to help children have a chance at reaching their full potential and improve their quality of life.  There is not a service offered in Saskatchewan that provides a program for children that targets improvement in movement patterning and function. We feel the TheraSuit Method® can provide just that!

We are raising money to bring the TheraSuit Method® to Saskatchewan! We need your help to get our therapists trained in this exciting new technique so that together we can change a child’s life and to do this we need $25,000.

Let’s all come together and provide a service that can really change a child’s life.

Perks: