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The role of pediatric therapy

Russian

About the LIFE Program

Health in Motion specializes in pediatric treatment and rehabilitation. We treat every child according to his or her specific needs. Standing for Learning Independent Function Everyday, LIFE was first conceived by our director Natan Gendelman. It is designed as a specialized education and rehabilitation system for children with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism and autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, pediatric stroke, child developmental delay, and acquired brain injury.

Every child is unique, with his own experiences, personality and point of view. As a result, each child’s condition will be different, meaning that there can be no template for treatment. The LIFE program is designed to address these needs.

The LIFE Concept

The LIFE concept is based on the following:

• If a child can move, he can learn. If he can learn, then he can develop.
• The brain has neuroplasticity. As a child grows, so does his brain. With the appropriate stimulation and education, a child's brain can develop additional pathways to replace the damaged ones.
• Only independent function can develop a child into independency. A child’s knowledge comes from independently exploring the world around him. As a result, our goal is to simply guide the child to perform functions for himself, by himself.
• Brain stimulation comes from verbal and motor guidance.Therefore, we emphasize the importance of communication and repetition when working with a child.
• There is no exercise, just function; no therapy, only life. Treatment is based on a child’s physical effort. We simply provide guidance and teach him functions that are integral to his daily living.
• Treatment must continue outside of the clinic and become a part of the child’s life. Therefore, we teach parents how to continue guiding their child outside the clinic.
• Nothing can be built up on disability. No child is seen as handicapped; therefore, we build on his ability, and not his disability.

The LIFE Methodology

We apply principles from the LIFE Concept to the treatment of the patients in our LIFE Program.

• The LIFE Program covers all aspects of your child’s development including his social, motor, communication, and cognitive development skills.
• Each function is broken down into steps that a child can learn. By understanding, following, and repeating these steps, function becomes automatic.
• Depending on the child’s age, condition, and stage of development, we create a customized program suited to his individual needs.
• Treatment involves the use of common everyday objects. We do not use splints, AFOs or specialized equipment.

The Team

Each of our patients has his own team of 2-4 practitioners dedicated to treating him throughout the whole rehabilitation course. Sessions involve one-on-one treatment with each licensed practitioner. Your child’s team may include:

• Functional Education/Rehabilitation Specialist
• Pediatric Massage Therapist
• Speech Language Pathologist

Treatments vary from 2-5 hours per day depending on the program and your child’s specific needs.

WHY THE LIFE PROGRAM IS UNIQUE

• The LIFE concept and methodology was developed by Natan Gendelman. Therefore, this program is distinct in its origin and practice.
• LIFE is not based on exercise, but daily function. The methodology is built on everyday activities related to daily life.
• The LIFE Program is scheduled to meet the specific needs of every child. It is an ongoing process, and we try to begin treatment as soon as possible.
• By not using any specialized equipment, treatment is not limited to the clinic. With our specialized training, it can easily be continued by the parents and/or caregivers at home.

Our program is intensive and designed to go well beyond traditional therapies to produce results. For this reason, many parents tell us that they see improvements in a very short period of time.

How LIFE Changes Lives

Our son Tadgh was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 10 months old... We decided to come to Toronto for treatment after seeing Natan on his website...We came over hoping to improve our son’s physical development and soon discovered changes to every aspect of his development – his eating improved, his awareness, understanding and social ability to communicate... - Amanda Kehoe, Ireland | Tadgh's story Read our testimonials >>

See our current program schedule >>

Accommodation for Foreign Applicants

If you are interested in enrolling your child in our LIFE Program, we would be happy to assist you in finding a lease on an apartment, meeting you at the airport and giving extended support during your stay. For more information, feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!