Therapies 4 Kids, Inc.

4001 Ocean Dr, Suite #305

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308
Office: (954) 491-6611 Fax: (954) 241-6726
Email: info@therapies4kids.com www.therapies4kids.com

Thank you for requesting information from Therapies 4 Kids, Inc. This packet is to familiarize you with
our services. We are proud to announce we are one only a few clinics to offer the TheraSuit, Universal
Exercise Unit (The Cage), pediatric intensive fitness program and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in one
great location right across from the Ft. Lauderdale Beach. Listed below are descriptions of the services
in a more detailed manor.

Pediatric Intensive Fitness Program

Intense exercise program for children with neuromuscular disorders performed on a one-on-one basis
with a skilled professional. The program is a 3-week session with the child being seen 5 days per week
for 3 to 4 hours per day. The intense program focuses on strengthening & flexibility with the use of the
TheraSuit™, universal exercise unit, the spider and progressive resistance exercises. We also include a
detailed child specific exercise routine. This intense program is ideal for those who want to enhance &
improve the child's developmental & functional abilities (ex: mobility, balance & coordination, gait,
etc.). There are two sessions daily; the AM session runs from 8-12 without speech or 8 to 12:30 with
speech therapy and the PM session runs from 1-5 without speech or 12:15 – 5 with speech. The daily
schedule is based on the child’s personal needs. The day usually starts with hot packs, sandbags,
stretching, and massage to prepare the child for the hard work to come. This is just like if you were to
go to the gym to work out, you always warm up first. The last day of the program you receive a
comprehensive home exercise program that includes pictures of your child demonstrating the treatment
exercises and any other recommendations we may have to enhance your child’s strength, endurance, and
overall level of functioning.

Universal Exercise Unit

Not only is the UEU the most effective device for improving muscle strength, but it also allows for
isolating the desired muscle group. What this means is that whenever a person with a neurological
disorder is asked to perform a certain movement, due to muscle tone and lack of coordination, strength
and balance, he/she will try to perform that movement with both extremities (upper or lower) at the same
time. The Universal Exercise Unit, along with specific exercises performed in it, allows one to re-
educate the patient's nervous system to isolate one extremity from the other and move it independently.
This is how a normal gait becomes a reality.

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 Therapies 4 Kids, Inc.
4001 Ocean Dr, Suite #305
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308
Office: (954) 491-6611 Fax: (954) 241-6726
Email: info@therapies4kids.com www.therapies4kids.com
While strengthening muscles and improving function, the system of exercises performed in the UEU
contributes to gains in range of motion, both active and passive, and improved muscle flexibility and
tone. This is the main reason why we promote it for the cerebral palsy population.

As the name "universal" suggests, the exercise unit is used in many other ways. Another way is called
the "Spider".

Through the system of elastic bands and a wide belt worn around the waist, the UEU provides very
dynamic vertical or horizontal suspension. The goals of the exercises performed in the "Spider" are to
improve functional skills (sitting, crawling, standing, walking), balance, coordination, and sensory-
motor integration. The biggest goal in mind would always be promoting independent movement.

Not only is it a lot of fun for the patient, but it also substitutes for the work of two additional people.

The UEU is also extremely helpful while working on specific goals like endurance for a certain skill.
With the use of the tracking rail, the patient and therapist work on the proper coordination of the
movement (for example: reciprocation), the quality of the movement and endurance. It is very helpful
and often used in our center as a dynamic stander. Patients learn the concept of weight shifting and
weight bearing along with the consequences of its lack in a safe way. Little ones love to "fly" and "spin."

Parallel bars installed inside the UEU allow one to combine any of the previously mentioned concepts
with gait training, functional skills and transfers. It can be done either with the use of the "Spider,"
tracking rail or independently. Very often we replace the parallel bars with two suspended ropes,
creating a version of a "suspended bridge."

There is no age limit to use the UEU. The weight limit is 350 pounds. The Universal Exercise Unit
meets all the requirements and is FDA listed and registered.

Indications and Benefits

• Pediatric patients
• Post - stroke (CVA)
• Autism
• Central Nervous System disorders
• Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental Delays
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Rheumatoid arthritis (this type of suspension can be used to provide joint distraction, therefore it
decreases the forces acting on the joint itself and helps eliminate pain and further joint damage)
• Sport injuries
• Down Syndrome
• Vestibular disorders
• Sensory Integration Disturbances
• Fractures - early stages in rehabilitation

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 Therapies 4 Kids, Inc.
4001 Ocean Dr, Suite #305
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308
Office: (954) 491-6611 Fax: (954) 241-6726
Email: info@therapies4kids.com www.therapies4kids.com
Benefits

Universal Exercise Unit is unique and a universal device that allows one to:

• Increase strength
• Increase range of motion (active and passive range of motion))
• Isolate desired (weakened) muscle or muscle groups and strengthen them to enable function
• Eliminate gravitational forces acting on the body to facilitate weak muscle groups and active
movement
• Obtain measurable gains in muscle strength and flexibility
• Improve balance
• Improve coordination
• Focus on a particular functional skill
• Promote developmental milestones
• Facilitate upright position in any position
• Partial or full weight bearing
• Very early postoperative rehabilitation
• Promotes motor learning and motor planning
• Provides a variety of sensory-integration techniques
• Helps one to develop a sense of security and success
• "Load" or "unload" the exercised joints (joint distraction or compression)
• Promotes independence and overall improved physical image -"self confidence"

Other benefits

• Safe and easy to use

• No maintenance required
• Durable
• Easy to assemble
• "All in one" unit the allows flexibility and multiple application
• Can be applied in a variety of diagnoses and disorders
• Focuses on the entire body (upper extremities, lower extremities, trunk, head)
• Allows one to "measure" the improvement
• Combined in a system of 2 or more is more cost-effective (1 therapist can treat 2 or more
patients at the same time

The TheraSuit

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 Therapies 4 Kids, Inc.
4001 Ocean Dr, Suite #305
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308
Office: (954) 491-6611 Fax: (954) 241-6726
Email: info@therapies4kids.com www.therapies4kids.com

History:
The original suit, referred to as the “Penguin” suit, was developed in 1971 by doctors in the Russian
Center for Aeronautical and Space Medicine to fight the effects of gravity eliminated environment
gravity. The researchers were noticing that after the astronauts returned to Earth from the space station,
the astronauts were having muscle weakness and fractures. Therefore, the Penguin suit was developed.
It uses a series of bungees to resist the astronaut’s movements and imitate the effects gravity. After
working with the suit a researcher noticed the astronauts not using the suit demonstrated postural
insecurities similar to children with cerebral palsy. With modifications the Penguin suit was transformed
into the Adeli Suit in 1992. The Adeli Suit was the only one of its kind until 2002 when the Adeli suit
was updated and called TheraSuit™ (U.S. patent pending) by two physical therapists, Richard and
Izabela Koscielny.

The TheraSuit™ consists of a system of adjustable elastic bungee cords attaching the different segments
to and from an exoskeleton. The segments consist of a vest, a pair of shorts, two knee pads, and
looping for the shoes. TheraSuit™ is constructed of a breathable material to create a soft dynamic
orthotic. In addition to providing input, the suit can resist and prompt proper functional movements,
therefore creating strength in proper movement patterns. The system of elastic connectors
topographically mirrors the arrangement of the flexor and extensor muscles, trunk rotators, and lower
limbs, working as an elastic frame around the body, the suit provides an additional, vertically directed
load to the body of 33-88 pounds. Its major goal is to improve and change proprioception (pressure from
the joints, ligaments, muscles), reduce patient's pathological reflexes, restore physiological muscle
synergies (proper patterns of movement) and load the entire body with weight (process similar to a
reaction of our muscles to the gravitational forces acting up for 24 hours). These affects helps to
normalize afferent vestibulo-proprioceptive input (information arriving to the vestibular system). The
vestibular system is a very important center for balance and coordination. This process integrates and
sends back all the information that arrives from muscles, joints, tendons etc. It also influences muscle
tone, balance and the position of the body in space.

* Information received from the TheraSuit LLC

Indications:
Cerebral Palsy
Autism
Developmental Delays
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Post Stroke (CVA)
Spinal Cord Injuries
Neuromuscular Disorders
Ataxia
Athethosis
Spasticity (increased muscle tone)
Hypotonia (low muscle tone)
Other diagnosis’s approved on a patient to patient basis

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 Therapies 4 Kids, Inc.
4001 Ocean Dr, Suite #305
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308
Office: (954) 491-6611 Fax: (954) 241-6726
Email: info@therapies4kids.com www.therapies4kids.com
Benefits:
Re-trains central nervous system
Normalizes muscle tone
Aligns the body to as close to normal as possible
Provides dynamic correction
Normalizes (corrects) gait pattern
Provides tactile stimulation
Influences vestibular system
Improves balance
Improves coordination
Decreases uncontrolled movement in ataxia and athethosis
Improves body and spatial awareness
Supports weak muscles
Provide resistance to strong muscles to further enhance strengthening
Improves speech production and it’s fluency through head control and trunk support
Promotes development of both fine and gross motor skills
Improves bone density
Helps to decrease contractions
Improves hip alignment
Restore ontogenic development

Contraindications and Precautions

Contraindications:
Hip subluxation greater than 50%
Severe scoliosis
Severe skeletal abnormalities
Precautions:
Heart Conditions
Uncontrolled seizure activities
Respiratory Complications
Hip subluxation
Hydrocephalus (with a VP shunt)
Diabetes
Kidney Problems
High or Low Blood pressure

Payment and Reservations

In order to reserve a session spot we encourage you to call as soon as possible. Space is very limited
and the only way to ensure your reservation is to place a $1000 deposit with Therapies 4 Kids, Inc. We
accept personal checks and major credit cards for payment. The remaining balance will be due one
month before your scheduled session.

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 Therapies 4 Kids, Inc.
4001 Ocean Dr, Suite #305
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308
Office: (954) 491-6611 Fax: (954) 241-6726
Email: info@therapies4kids.com www.therapies4kids.com

Cancellation/Refund Policy
Unfortunately, cancellations and refunds are only accepted for the reasons stated below.
If you need to cancel your reservation for an intensive fitness session for some other
reason, the money you paid will be credited to your account. Your credit will be honored
for up to one full year from the date the reservation was cancelled. Should you choose to
reschedule, you can apply your credit towards another session within one year from the
date of cancellation. However, if you need to cancel a reserved spot secondary to one of
the following reasons, the amount paid will be refunded in full.
1. Child does not meet the criteria to participate in our intensive program.
2. Physician will not authorize participation in the program due to medical
reason.
Patient Sick Policy
Due to the fragile nature of our patients, please be courteous and do NOT bring your
child to therapy if they have any of the following:

• Any fever (99 and above)

• Green or yellow runny nose
• Vomiting or diarrhea due to illness
• Any change in skin color or texture
• Breathing difficulty
• Coughing fits/ coughing up mucous
• Any infectious illness such as a rash, impetigo, pink eye, chicken pox, etc.
• Ring worm
• Other

If your child becomes ill during the treatment session, we will discuss this with the
parent/guardian and the child will need to be seen by a physician. If there is an
emergency situation, Therapies 4 Kids, Inc. staff will call 911 and we will contact the
parent/guardian if they are not present.

If the child comes to therapy with any infectious illness, it is up to the clinician’s
discretion to cancel the treatment.

• If your child misses therapy due to illness and is enrolled in the intense program,
we will attempt to make up the time.
• Your child is very important to us and we want to ensure that they will get the
most out of their therapy sessions. But, pushing an ill child to continue therapy
will not benefit the child.

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