WHAT IS THIS?
TheraSuit is a soft, dynamic, proprioceptive orthosis consisting of cap, vest, shorts, knee pads and shoe attachments. All these elements are connected with each other through a system of elastic bands. TheraSuit is a safe and effective rehabilitation design that, together with special training program, has been created to expedite rehabilitation progress.

TheraSuit is especially helpful in rehabilitation of Cerebral Palsied children. The TheraSuit method is based on the individualized rehabilitation program whose aim is to improve patients’ functional state. The main therapeutic instruments used during TheraSuit rehabilitation are TheraSuit orthosis and Universal Exercise Unit.

The TheraSuit Method, having been created as an alternative method to other, less effective rehabilitation programs, eliminates the negative results of the lack of motion, strengthens muscles and contributes to general fitness. One of the basic concepts of the TheraSuit Method is training theory as well as physiological changes theory: disabled child’s body is treated during exercises as if it belonged to healthy person. Specially prepared rehabilitation program contributes to rapid progress in patients’ motorial skills.

HISTORY
The idea of the TheraSuit was born out of the Soviet Space program, intended to help Cosmonauts keep their muscles toned on long-term space flights. The first version of the suit was called Penguin and its main aim was to counteract the effects of living in space without gravity. In the nineties the orthosis has been used primarily in rehabilitation of neuro-motor handicapped children. In 1997, in the United States the suit was for the first time presented as an effective therapeutic instrument for cerebral palsy patients. In 2002 the suit, having been properly designed and registered with FDA, was introduced to American market. The inventors of the TheraSuit Method – Richard and Izabela Kościelny are parents of two daughters, one of whom – Kaya (18) has CP.

improvement of control over muscles
APPLICATION OF THE THERASUIT METHOD. HOW DOES IT WORK?
The TheraSuit orthosis, despite being a very effective therapeutic instrument, does not constitute therapy in itself. Thus, the therapists have to be in possession of extensive rehabilitation knowledge. They use during TheraSuit therapy PNF, Bobath techniques, Terapia Manualna, Kinesiotaping, Thera Band ,

• as well as Sensory Integration, Doman-Delacato therapy and Kinesitherapy. There is involved in the TheraSuit rehabilitation the whole set of specialistic equipment such as Universal Exercise Unit, spider, stander, balls, tapes, sensory pillows, hanging platforms and many others. Effectiveness of the TheraSuit method is therefore guaranteed by qualities of the very orthosis and therapists’ experience and knowledge.
  
  RESULTS OF THE THERASUIT REHABILITATION
  

contributes to general progress of new-learnt motorial and functional skills
other methods used in the TheraSuit rehabilitation
PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation)
The PNF method is aimed at restoring motorial skills in accordance with physiological sequence of motorial development. Therapeutic actions undertaken as part of PNF method are based on many different sorts of afferential stimuli (visual, aural, proprioceptive, tactile etc.). The PNF method tries to avoid isolated movements in single-joint exercises and in typical dimensions. All the patient’s movements result from his/her conscious effort. The PNF method implies the whole set of different rehabilitation techniques.



Bobath
Bobath therapy includes two kinds of separate treatments. The first one is used in rehabilitation of cerebral palsied children whereas the second one results effective in rehabilitation of adults afflicted with neurodisability.
Bobath therapy applied in children’s rehabilitation aims at increasing the child’s ability to move in as normal a way as possible. A therapist helps the child to change his abnormal postures. As time goes on a patient learns to control his movements and assumes correct posture of his own accord. In the Bobath therapy much attention is being paid to exercises which enable changing of muscle tone. Thanks to this modification of postural tone children with spasticity become less stiff whereas those with e.g. athetosis gain more control over their movements. Physiological improvement achieved as a result of Bobath exercises always holds together with better quality of functional skills.

Kaltenborn-Evjenth Manual Therapy
Kaltenborn-Evjenth Manual Therapy has been developed by Scandinavian doctors and physiotherapists who had been practising well known methods of manual therapy – Cyriax, McKenzie, Maitland etc. Its main aim is to restore the right joint mechanics counteracting at the same time osseous and articular disturbances. Different muscle relaxation and stretching techniques that are used during Kaltenborn-Evjenth therapy alleviate pain and improve movability of motor system.
Kinesiotaping
Kinesiotaping was developed 25 years ago by a Japanese specialist dr. Kenzo Kase. Acting on muscles, articulations, lymphatic and nervous system, Kinesiotaping is one of the most popular rehabilitation methods used in Japan, USA and many European countries. It has been proved in several studies that Kinesiotaping turns out to be effective in treatment of different motor system disturbances.

How does Kinesiotaping work?

normalizes muscle tone

Additionally, Kinesiotaping supports functioning of the endogenic anaesthetization system.

TheraBand
TheraBand equipment has been widely used in many different domains of orthopedic rehabilitation. Thanks to their professional and accurate design, TheraBand products are being successfully used in the treatment of all sorts of neurological and motor dysfunctions.