Focus on the Rib Cage for Improvement of Respiration, Phonation, Postural Control and Movement-Level 1

This 3-day workshop will focus on the rib cage and its related structures as they impact on the coordination of respiratory function with general movement, phonation, and oral motor activities in infants and children with a primary diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Anatomical and kinesiological characteristics of the respiratory mechanism will be reviewed. Significant components of early typical respiratory and phonatory development will be explored especially in regard to their relationship to early general movement development. The respiratory coordination development and functioning of children with cerebral palsy will be examined and implications for intervention programming will be discussed. Treatment strategies with emphasis on handling to improve rib cage and respiratory musculature activity will be discussed and demonstrated extensively through group lab sessions and patient demonstrations.


LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify significant anatomical and kinesiological characteristics of the respiratory mechanism.

2. Identify significant aspects of typical, early respiratory-phonatory development and their relationship to early general movement development.

3. Identify significant aspects of respiratory coordination development and function in children with cerebral palsy.

4. Formulate treatment goals and strategies for the coordination of respiratory function with general movement, phonation, and oral motor activities in infants and children with cerebral palsy.