Dynamic Strides Therapy

Meowdy -

Since hippotherapy is back in session and it finally cooled off a little bit, I can return to one of my favorite oversight locations in the whole clinic. From here I can watch whatever activities are happening in the arena, I can see the parking lot to decide who needs a Momo greeting when they arrive and most importantly, I can stay away from Jiji when he's in a playful mood. Do you have a favorite hiding spot like mine? One that lets you take a little breather from your job while still being accessible for the important people (ie, the kids at the front door).

I hope everyone is enjoying this cooler weather!

Momo

Our therapists are blessed with a variety of tools to help support goal acquisition here at DST. Here we see one of our speech therapists using the Therasuit to support sensory regulation and organization, allowing for the opportunity to facilitate more effective and efficient communication opportunities for a patient using his augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. While these varieties of tools are not absolutely necessary, they do help to increase patient engagement, and we think make the sessions more fun.

The barn is back and in full swing for the fall now that the heat has broken. We anticipate a few more days where services may be interrupted but we are hopeful for cool weather on the horizon!

Meowdy -

Now that we are getting back into the swing of school things I'm getting to help with more learning activities in the clinic. While I think the therapists are doing great, it's obvious when I am involved because the sessions just turn out amazing. This pronoun lesson was a big hit, look how successful they were with just a little help from me!

I've got to get back to teaching.. Have a great week!

Momo

Recently, our teams from The Arc of the Ozarks Autism & Neurodevelopmental Center and Dynamic Strides Therapy came together for a day of learning, connection, and fun at their quarterly meeting.

Staff toured each other's spaces, met the therapy horses, learned what a hippotherapy session involves, and even took a turn on the zipline in the gym! They also participated in an interactive activity designed to build understanding of the sensory, communication, and social experiences that our clients may navigate every day.

As we continue bringing our teams together, we're excited to learn from one another and strengthen the support we provide to children and families across our community!

Happy World Physical Therapy Day! 💙

Today, we’re recognizing our amazing physical therapy team and the difference they make in the lives of children and families every day. Thank you for your expertise, encouragement, and dedication to helping children build strength, confidence, and new skills.

We appreciate all that you do!

In the year that we've had the universal exercise unit, we have found a variety of activities to do inside "the cage", but this one takes the cake! We were treated to a karate demo by one of our patients! Thanks for sharing your moves with us!

Who remembers when sitting at your parent's desk and working was the ultimate play time activity? This young lady certainly does... We take every opportunity to allow for child-directed therapy activity for this very reason. This experience allowed her to navigate the whole clinic environment, share her wants and needs with her therapist, and engage in fine motor activity and imaginative play. While it may not have been what the therapist would have planned, it certainly provided a wealth of experience and opportunity for intervention in something that this young lady thought was just a quick trip to the office.

Meowdy -

Jiji and I are looking forward to getting these horses back to their normal routine. They've been getting beauty treatments in the barn so everything smells fruity. They've been working out in the arena and making us dizzy running in circles. Their vets have been out to do adjustments, and acupuncture. This is all cutting into our nap and rest time, and we are ready for everything to go back to normal. According to Sophie the barn will be back to normal soon! We cannot wait....

Momo

As clinicians, it’s important to understand a modality before we incorporate it into our practice. Knowing how to use a technique is only part of the process. We also need to understand its purpose, theoretical foundation, potential benefits and limitations, contraindications, and—most importantly—whether it is appropriate for the individual client in front of us. This past week, our equine team was able to provide an opportunity for both our regular therapists as well as our summer visitors from The Arc school program to experience the equine movement we utilize during hippotherapy sessions. This experience is critical in supporting our clinical staff in their safe and effective use of hippotherapy as an intervention tool. Thank you to our equine team for facilitating this experience!