CNI Community-Based Rehabilitative Services Grant

Project

Developing a Model Program in Brain Injury Rehabilitation - Movement Therapy through

Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and Bartenieff Fundamentals (BF)

Marianne B. Talbot, Ph.D. ABD, CMANational Rehabilitation & Rediscovery

Foundation

Studies in neurophysiology have demonstrated that bodily kinesthetic experiences produce learning that establishes especially strong neural pathways in the brain and that when individuals participate in this type of learning approach, the two hemispheres of the brain are simultaneously engaged and produce long term memory.

Kinesthetic experiences, such as movement therapy, are especially important for individuals with TBI due to their difficulty with learning and transferring or generalizing learned skills as a result of their cognitive deficits.

Literature supports the argument that the mind and body are connected and that movement increases bodily kinesthetic, proprioceptive, tactile, and vestibular reception. In doing so, movement therapy with individuals with TBI provide a holistic approach in which movement is a catalyst for positive change.

Project Goals

To expand program services available for individuals with TBI focusing on maximizing individuals’ functional mobility, cognitive processing skills, self concept, and independent living skills

Accomplished through Movement Therapy using LMA Body, Effort, Space, and Shape (BESS) and BF

A unique program offered within the Commonwealth of Virginia

Goals Continued

To demonstrate the significant benefits of movement therapy and LMA/BF in improving functional mobility, cognitive processing skills, self concept, and independent living skills for individuals with TBI

Goals Continued

To develop a new brain injury rehabilitation program within the Commonwealth of VA for individuals with TBI

Achievements To Date Second Year of Grant

Two movement therapy classes - Loudoun County & City of Alexandria (goal 2 classes)

Total number of participants served - 21 (goal 20)

Waiting list currently in place Program Curriculum developed Participant Journal developed with definition

of terms, class format, journal entries, and goal and progress entries

Data being collected to document benefits of movement therapy

Achievements Continued All participants achieved at least one

individual goal during their participation in this grant to date

2 participants who were previously ineligible for WWRC TBI program and 1 who was ineligible for another rehab program were accepted into the rehab programs post 1 year of weekly movement therapy sessions

3 participants progressed in functional mobility from w/c to walker to cane

5 participants now have a volunteer job and one a part-time job

Achievements Continued

3 Newspaper Articles published about NRRF’s movement therapy program in the Washington Post newspaper

Presentations on program at professional conferences Laban Institute of Movement Studies Int’l

Conference - Long Beach, CA Society for the Arts in Healthcare Conference -

Alexandria, Virginia International Council of Kinetography

Laban/Labanotation Conference - London, England (July 2005)

International Society for the Arts in Healthcare Conference - British Columbia (June 2005)

Achievements Continued Fundraising Efforts

NRRF created the Rediscovery 10K & 1 Mile Run/Walk event to raise funds for additional classes due to the increase in referrals for this program

This event exemplifies the potential of these grant participants in their ability to achieve their life’s goals especially in rediscovering their ability to walk and run again

In Conclusion This program has provided hope for a

group of individuals who had lost faith in their ability to have goals, feel significant, be challenged, and succeed in life

This program has provided individuals with TBI a world of possibilities focusing on what individuals can do and embracing individuals where they are in life with great expectations of who they will become