Therapeutic Maribelle Exercise Assist System
(MEAS) Testimonials:
June 3, 1997
Amelia House Group Home (Victoria, BC)
I am writing a short summary of the experience three of our
residents have had in the MEAS. We have one system that can be
adapted to the three women. We have had the MEAS for approximately
one year. We use it two or three times weekly depending on how
the women are feeling. We have seen significant progress with
both Linda and Marlene. Linda shows more attention to her surroundings
while in the MEAS while Marlene can become very excited and very
active.
LINDA
Linda is a 42 year old woman who has right hemiplegia as a result
of a cerebral hemorrhage. Linda adapted quite quickly to the
MEAS. She obviously enjoyed the upright position and especially
if she was listening to music. She initially would weight bear
with her feet turned under and this took frequent adjustments
to correct and she now assumes the correct position each time.
Linda has taken steps by transferring her weight from one foot
to the other. You can see the delight she is experiencing. She
also simply enjoys the time in the MEAS when she is swinging,
or just being face to face with another person.
JOANNE
JoAnne is a 52 year old woman who has athetoid cerebral palsy.
She has experienced more difficulty adjusting to the MEAS than
the others have. We have been unable to explain her intolerance
so we simply monitor her closely for any adverse reaction. JoAnne
can weight bear and therefore can assume a correct stance. JoAnne's
greatest progress in the MEAS has been her ability to remain
in it up to 15 minutes. If her body movements are relatively
calm then she has a better opportunity of enjoying her time in
the MEAS. At these times she can keep time to music or maintain
eye contact with care worker.
MARLENE
Marlene is a 41 year old woman who had influenzal meningitis,
spastic diplegia and seizures. She is easily agitated and does
not adapt well to changes in either her environment or routine.
After some resistance she became tolerant of the MEAS to now
when she actually quite enjoys being up in the MEAS. At first
she had difficulty allowing her feet to touch the floor but now
she has progressed to weight bearing and actually jumping. The
sensation of causing her own body to move as a result of pushing
off her feet really delights her.
June 20, 1984
Tillicum School, Langley, BC.
Now that we have had the Merry Muscles Exerciser for some
five months I thought you might be interested in the following
observations we have made. For reasons of confidentiality we
have numbered the children.
Child No. 1 -- Very fearful when first placed in the
exerciser but by his second exposure this had changed and he
was beginning to enjoy the movement and the freedom it gave to
him. He now nods his head and signs "Yes" when asked
if he wants to go in the exerciser. His head control has increased
and his back has straightened. He has learnt to move himself
backwards along the track (which I really like as an addition
to the exerciser), and he is learning to propel himself forwards
- he made about a foot last week. This child has cerebral palsy
- all four limbs involved some spasticity - some hypotonia. Age
10 years.
September 9, 1985:
This is to bring you up to date and to give you a progress
report on the children in my class who are using the Merry Muscles
Exerciser.
Child No. 1 -- This child has shown a great deal of
improvement both physically and mentally. Physically he has made
gains in his upper trunk control, balance reaction and leg strength.
He is now pushing a weighted cart and is able to take 2-3 steps
independently whilst doing this. Mentally he has gained in self
confidence, as of course we all do when we are growing and learning.
I feel this child could have made even greater progress in his
walking ability were it not for his pronounced ankle drifts,
which has recently been partially corrected by an operation and
which has aligned his feet in a more correct position for standing.
He is of course still in below the knee splints. It is also noticeable
that his very high stepping gait has become much less pronounced.
June 20, 1984
Child No. 2 -- Also C.P., but not as severely involved
as Child No. 1. Although this child at 6.9 yrs had just learnt
to walk albeit somewhat unsteadily just prior to us receiving
the exerciser we do feel that the equipment has greatly increased
his sense of balance. What it has also done for this child is
to give him a way of releasing all the pent up energy he has.
He just loves the equipment. Over the past few months he has
experimented and found he can jump with both feet off the ground
, twirl, first with one foot on the ground and then with both
feet in the air, he laughs in delight. We find that after he
has been in the MEAS for about 30 mins., he is much calmer and
will settle down to his table activities more willing. He has
learnt to pedal the trike this spring and I feel that perhaps
the control he has gained over his legs and feet in the MEAS
has helped him to master the pushing act on the pedals.
Review of Child No. 2 -- When we first had the exerciser
although Brian was walking when called he would only crawl in
response. During the past two months we have seen this change
and he now stands from his chair and spontaneously walks to the
teacher. As you can imagine we are all so pleased to see this
and feel this too has developed from time spent in the exerciser
which has given him this confidence.
September 9, 1985:
This is to bring you up to date and to give you a progress
report on the children in my class who are using the Merry Muscles
Exerciser.
Child No. 2 -- This child is now able to walk across
an uneven surface, eg. a grassy field and is able to maintain
his balance. His very wide gait has narrowed and he is now walking
short distances (10-15 metres) with his arms by his sides, previously
you remember his hands were held at shoulder height to maintain
his balance. He has also become a much happier child, giving
good eye contact, friendly and outgoing. He is now making some
attempt at communication, vocalizing spontaneously while making
eye contact with his teachers. The MEAS is also his favorite
leisure time activity. I think he loves the freedom and absolute
sense of security it gives him and it gives us all a great deal
of pleasure to watch him twirl in the opposite direction.
June 20, 1984
Child No. 5 -- A little boy also C.P. and quite spastic.
His physio. did give us permission to try him in the MEAS but
cautioned us to watch for increased spasticity. Oddly enough
and this observation has also been made by his mother, the MEAS
seems to have the opposite effect and the child relaxes, the
little hands unclench and his whole body seems to loosen. His
head control is now quite good and we are hoping to get him to
take his weight on his legs. He moves the MEAS and we suspend
toys from the metal ring to encourage him to reach and stretch.
He loves splashing with this fet in the paddling whool whilst
suspended in the MEAS. This child has just had his fifth birthday.
September 9, 1985:
This is to bring you up to date and to give you a progress
report on the children in my class who are using the Merry Muscles
Exerciser.
Child No. 5 -- This little boy can now sit unsupported
on a backless stool for periods of up to 30 minutes. His general
level of alertness has improved as has his leg strength. He is
beginning to take weight through his legs and is in a stander
daily. We are now using the MEAS to encourage his weight bearing
and also for gait training. It is worth noting that although
this child has a fair degree of spasticity in his upper trunk,
the MEAS invariably causes him to relax.
We have 3 new children this term, all of whom will be shortly
seeing our physio. and all of whom will probably be using the
MEAS to some degree. By the way we put the little blind girl
into the exerciser this afternoon - she was estatic jumping up
and down saying over and over, Carla jumping, Carla jumping.
This child's chin is usually down on her chest but the whole
time she was in the exerciser (10 minutes) saw her keeping her
head upright. We are hoping this was not simply a coincidence
as we can decrease her drooling markedly if we can get her to
keep her head up and her mouth closed.
Whilst of course it is impossible scientifically to attribute
all the progress these children have made to the MEAS I do feel
that it has made a significant contribution and most certainly
it has given them all a great deal of fun and pleasure, ingredients
which all too often seem to be sadly lacking in their lives.
Tillicum School, Langley, BC. |
