Nachman's Upsee Story

The Upsee as part of Physical Therapy

Nachman is a four-year-old little boy with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He is in his second year at pre- school, where therapists assessed him as Level IV on the Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS).

Clinical Background

Nachman’s therapy is intensive. He wears ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), uses a standing frame daily, has therapist- facilitated walking 4 times per week, facilitated walking with a posterior walker 4 times per week, and occasionally uses a Hart walker. He also receives intensive MEDEK therapy every day (an exercise-based programme for young children with motor delays).

Our Approach

For a 30 day period, Nachman’s regular school movement programme was replaced with the Upsee. He used it 4 times per week with his therapy team in one-to-one situations and in the classroom. The team concentrated on regular stepping and walking with Nachman, as well as side-stepping to facilitate abduction.

The Result

At the end of the 30 day period, Nachman’s therapists reported more activity in his gluteal, quadriceps and hamstring muscles, as well as improved lower limb and trunk extension, and signs of improvement in his posterior walker. Nachman can be observed to use active head and neck extension, bilateral hand function, active movement and he seems to be able to achieve upright positioning more easily when standing. Nachman also enjoyed using the Upsee at home, where he participated more fully in family life, especially when playing with his cousin.