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Wisconsin BPI Therapists
Paula Galaviz MS, OTR, CHT
Are you a physical or occupational therapist, and does your center offer physical and/or occupational therapy for children and adults with brachial plexus injuries? I am an Occupational Therapist, and Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). I work directly with the physicians in our clinic, for initial evaluation and follow-up appointments. An OT evaluation is completed during the physician's initial visit to assist in identifying physical and functional deficits when establishing a diagnosis, or to document progress at follow-up appointments. Therapy recommendations are provided to parents, and to treating therapists. Adult patients are seen for treatment at our clinic. Pediatric therapy services are offered through Curative Rehabilitation Center and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Indicate the number of years of experience in treating brachial plexus injured (bpi) patients. I have over 9 years experience in the evaluation and treatment of brachial plexus injuries. Identify what bpi patients you have experiece in treating (obstetrical brachial plexus, trauma, adult and/or pediatric. Our clinic treats obstetrical brachial plexus palsy and traumatic brachial plexus palsy patients. How many bpi patients have you treated? I have seen more than 100 patients for evaluation +/or treatment. Do you follow your patients post surgically? I am present with the physician at each post-op visit, to reevaluate, provide home program updates, and therapy recommendations. Do you or your staff have a working relationship with physician(s) who are brachial plexus injury specialists?. Yes-see #1, #5. What therapy techniques, methods and interventions do you use, including, but not limited to, aquatic therapy, hippotherapy, kinesiotaping and splinting. I am not a pediatric therapist. We refer elsewhere for these services. As a Certified Hand Therapist, I routinely utilize custom splinting and serial casting, especially to address elbow flexion contractures. We also utilize dynamic splints and static-progressive splints (both are rental units). I provide therapy services to older children and adults including ROM, functional exercise, neuromuscular reeducation (including use of EMG biofeedback), muscle strengthening and postural exercises. My treatment program often includes aquatic exercise, as we have a pool in our clinic. Work conditioning, physical capacity evaluations and work site evaluation services are available. We have a Rehabilitation Psychologist in our center who can address issues such as body image in children, or other coping issues for adult patients. Our therapy orders for the pediatric population routinely include aquatic therapy. I have recommended hippotherapy to address postural issues. Are you familiar with NMES/TES stimulation or other types of stimulation? If yes, what type(s) of stimulation do you use?. We routinely use NMES in our therapy recommendations and treatment programs. We follow a protocol recommended for muscle atrophy, which includes the use of a low rate of 25-35 pps, and a low intensity. The patient wears the electrodes up to 8 hours/day. I also use NMES during treatment sessions for weak muscles (using traditional muscle stimulation protocols). List any specialized education or training and/or seminars or clinics you have attended in treating bpi individuals. *June 1997, National Brachial Plexus Palsy Association Conference *September 2003 UBPN Camp. Have you authored or co-authored any articles regarding brachial plexus injuries or participated in any research studies? Presented Therapeutic Management of Brachial Plexus Palsy at Wisconsin OT Conference. I have participated in one research study related to Brachial Plexus Palsy. Indicate any other facts that you feel would help families and individuals understand your practice I provide education to patients, parents and to other therapists to enhance their understanding of the injury, surgical options, issues to address in therapy and home programs. |
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