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Influence of the reflexive locomotion according Vojta to children with Down´s syndrome.
PLACHÁ, Milena
The topic of the thesis is "Effects of reflex locomotion according to Vojta for children with Down?s syndrome" from the perspective of parents. Down?s syndrome (DS) is a congenital syndrome which is caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21. A common feature for children with DS is a mild to moderate mental retardation. A very common feature of children with DS is muscular hypotonia and the relaxation of ligaments and tendons. This is the cause of posture disorder, slow motor development accompanied by the emergence of abnormal patterns of movement. Method that may be used in physical therapy for these children is the Vojta reflex locomotion method. In this therapy, we use partial patterns of global models of reflexive forward movement - reflex creeping and reflex rolling. In the treatment of children with abnormal motor function, we activate normal patterns of movement which can be then used in volitional motor skills. Reflex also positively affects other functions, such as fine motor skills in the orofacial region, peristalsis, respiration, urinary bladder muscle and development of the mental function. If the therapy results in an improvement of motor skills, then the life quality of the child and its family is improved too and there are better conditions for the social and vocational integration of the child. The theoretical part describes the characteristics of DS and the Vojta method of reflex therapy. First specified is DS, its history, classification of different types of DS and its heredity. The following describes the possibilities of diagnosis, symptoms and health problems of children and adults with DS. Last but not least should be mentioned the possibilities of education of children with DS and forms of support to families for a child with DS. In the chapters dealing with the Vojta reflex locomotion method, there is also the briefly mentioned personality Vaclav Vojta, who developed this therapy. It further describes the diagnostic possibilities of motor disabilities of children, two basic principles in Vojta reflex locomotion ? reflex creeping and reflex rolling and their possible use within the therapy. This theoretical part is followed by a research part. The research represents a qualitative narrative interview method. This method uses the recording and subsequent transcription of the interview in which the interviewee describes his life story. When processing, the interview is firstly literally converted into a written form and subsequently analyzed. Individual interviews are presented in stages. The first stage describes the situation in the family before the childbirth. The second stage describes the situation in the family after finding out about the diagnoses of DS. The third stage describes the current situation within the family, development of the child. The fourth stage focuses on planning for the future. The fifth stage is super analysis. In interviews, I search for patterns that are common to all narrations. Parents of five preschool aged children with DS, who undergo the therapy of Vojta reflex locomotion in the Vojta centre in Ceske Budejovice, were included in this research. Interviews were held with all the mothers, two fathers did not participate in the research. From the analysis of all five narrations, it was clear that the influence of the Vojta reflex locomotion method was positive with those children involved in the research. Parents noticed an improvement in body posture, improved motor skills of the tongue and also speech in older children. They consider the contribution of the Vojta reflex locomotion methods positive, both in the areas of motor skills and in the psychosocial area. For all the children involved in the research, this therapy is still being used.
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