DMI Intensive Therapy
(Dynamic Movement Intervention)
Dynamic Movement Integration (DMI) is an internationally recognized manual therapy technique. DMI helps children achieve their gross motor milestones. It takes advantage of the brain’s amazing ability to make changes (also known as neuroplasticity) to allow them to achieve new skills. This technique makes rapid, long lasting changes in a child’s brain so they are able to learn new skills.
How Is DMI Different?
DMI is different from traditional therapy methods in a variety of ways. It is able to provoke the highest level of gross motor independence through manual exercises which challenge the child to complete functional tasks. With DMI, the level of support progresses, which allows the child to activate their muscles with more postural control so that they can work towards their strength and independence.
DMI also progresses through exposure to gravity and allows children to learn how to align their body against gravity’s forces. It will alert several sensory systems, strength, and coordination so children can maintain their posture in all positions.
DMI is based on concepts from research on brain science which provokes the brain to make new strong connections, leading to rapid and explosive gross motor progress. It also utilizes dynamic stretching techniques with functional tasks so stretches are longer lasting and maintained to avoid muscle lengthening surgeries. Finally, DMI develops skeletal and joint maturity and alignment to promote aligned weight bearing for long term orthopedic health.
Who Can Benefit from Dynamic Movement Integration DMI Intensive Therapy?
Any child experiencing a gross motor delay can benefit from DMI. This can include a variety of conditions, such as: Down Syndrome, Cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, hypotonia, chromosomal abnormalities/genetic disorders, spinal cord lesions or acquired brain injury may benefit. Children who are at risk for gross motor delay can also benefit, such as those born prematurely, due to the strong neuroplastic changes that this treatment stimulates within the developing brain. Children with orthopedic conditions, such as, torticollis, toe walkers, genu valgum (knocked knees), in-toeing, etc.
What Does a Typical DMI Intensive Therapy Look Like?
Your initial session will consist of a review of your child’s medical history, gross motor milestones, current therapy regiment, and the equipment you may have in your home. We will also discuss the goals you would like to accomplish during your time in therapy with us. Next our therapists will complete an assessment of your child. This assessment will involve working through various movements that you will see carried out throughout their treatments as well so we can pinpoint what is causing your child difficulty with the goals set.
We will be seeing children using an intensive model of therapy. Children will be seen twice daily for 3 weeks, every 3 months. We also offer an option for your child to be seen twice daily for 1 week for a boost between intensives or for an introduction to DMI if you would like to try it out.
You can learn more about DMI, here: https://dmitherapy.com
We are very passionate about this new treatment technique and cannot wait to share it with you. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact us!