This is an extract from an article written by Leonid Blyum

ABR STRATEGY

ABR targets the core structures – the smooth muscles that are directly related to the quality of the general metabolism (proper breathing, swallowing, digestion, evacuation, etc.) that determine pneumatic capacity of the organism which is considered by ABR as a fundamental issue that defines the proportions and the alignment of the skeleton and the normality of the skeletal muscles

The objective of ABR is to restore proper tone of to the smooth muscles which in a cascade effect restores proportions and alignment of the skeleton. Once this is done, the muscle tone is normalized and the arms and legs have a normal range of mobility, so the children can develop their movements in normal spontaneous ways.

What are the smooth muscles?

The smooth muscles are the ones make up the internal organs, such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, intestines, etc. ABR considers the smooth muscles as the primary victims of cerebral palsy as their tone significantly drops in the hours following the brain injury.

Why address the smooth muscles?

The development of the organism is dependent upon the evolving strength of its internal pressures (pressure within internal cavities such as the neck, thorax and abdomen) created by the tone of the smooth muscles. If the pressure within the human organism collapses, in other words, if the tone of the smooth muscles drops, the skeleton structure surrounding it gradually collapses as well, causing the skeletal muscles imbalance (spasticity and contractures). In turn, muscular imbalance makes normal movements impossible.

This is why ABR proposes a unique technique to bring kinetic input directly to smooth muscles.

Strengthening of the smooth muscles brings up gradual growth in internal pneumatic capacity which in a cascade effect restores

• volume and shape of the trunk,
• normal distances between limbs and joints, eliminating spasticity and contractures,
• normal strength of weak muscles,
• normal alignment of the shoulder girdle and arms as well as pelvis and legs allowing normal arms and legs insertion.

Moreover, restoration of muscular skeletal structure re-establishes normal blood and oxygen supply to defective muscles and normal electrical ascending activity to the brain, opening wide the door to function.

ABR METHOD

The technique addresses internal layers rather than external and makes internal muscles react automatically. The child is a passive recipient.

The exercises do not work directly on top of the muscles. Instead, they imitate the way the movement of the lungs gently and rhythmically pushes air within the chest and abdomen against the internal muscles steadily developing and maintaining their electrical activity by developing and maintaining their blood supply and also accumulating normal volume in order to have proper head and neck control and so on downwards.

The rehabilitation program is based on a series of exercises transferring kinetic energy via quasi-static movement into membrane (tissue and cells). It is a pumping, piston-like hand movement which reaches the deepest involuntary muscles layers. It imitates the way the movement of the lungs gently and rhythmically pushes air within the chest and abdomen against the internal muscles steadily developing and maintaining their electrical activity by developing and maintaining their blood supply and also accumulating normal volume.

Towels are used as “air cushions” to ensure that there is no compression of the superficial tissues (skin and superficial muscles) and allow going through the barrier of skeletal muscles to reach the deepest layers (smooth muscles).

The muscles targeted are the involuntary intrinsic muscles of the neck and trunk (thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, pelvic floor). The excessive strong muscular groups, which are associated with the most pronounced effects of CP (spasticity, contractures) are never directly addressed by these exercises. Instead, recovery is achieved through strengthening opposing muscular groups.

Once the “quality” of the musculoskeletal elements has been improved, the brain upgrades its “matrix” of the musculoskeletal system to incorporate these positive changes and the child then starts executing motor functions spontaneously.

To find out more, please visit the ABR website.

24 May 2007

I just wanted to put up some photos so that a record could be kept of any changes.

The first photo is after 50 hours of ABR, the second is after 500 hours. Although the neck is at different angles, there is a real difference in his neck length. You can also see that his clavicle is becoming more prominent.

Again, the first photo is after 50 hours of ABR and the second photo is after approximately 500 hours of ABR. You can see that he is getting better definition in his tummy. This has translated to greater stability while sitting upsupported.

28 October 2007

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFCP7Y08UMY]

Print Friendly