Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) Therapy
We are an out-of-network practice and do not directly bill your insurance company.
Dynamic Movement Intervention Therapy
Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) is a therapeutic technique used in physical and occupational therapy to treat children with motor delay by improving automatic postural responses and helping each child progress toward developmental milestones (ie. rolling, sitting, four-point, crawling, standing, walking, and transitions). The goal of DMI is to provoke a specified active motor response from the child in response to defined dynamic exercises prescribed by the therapist. (This means that the therapist will present an exercise in order to provoke a specific movement or response from your child.)
This comprehensive intervention reflects current research on neurorehabilitation, technologies, and methodologies. DMI stimulates neuroplasticity to help your child’s brain make new and improved connections and develop their motor milestones.
Why an Intensive Model?
Research has shown that changes at a muscular level occur with an intensive model of therapy
Who can benefit from DMI?
DMI is a good fit for most children and can benefit those that haven’t met many of their milestones. This can include a wide range of delays—from those who aren’t rolling yet to children walking that need help with stairs, more difficult terrain, etc. Regardless of your child’s level of cognition and extent of neurological deficit or damage, they may benefit from DMI motor intervention because it works to stimulate neuroplasticity in the developing brain.
Children diagnosed with any type of motor delay (big or small) including conditions such as; Down Syndrome, Cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, hypotonia, chromosomal abnormalities/genetic disorders, spinal cord lesions, or acquired brain injury may benefit from this form of therapy.
Children with risk factors for delays, such as those who are born prematurely, can also benefit from this therapy. This is due to the strong neuroplastic changes that this treatment stimulates within the developing brain
Information sourced from dmitherapy.com
What happens during a DMI Intensive?
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All intensives will be based on Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) exercises and other appropriate interventions. We will begin with an online and phone call-based consultation where we will review your child’s medical history, goals for the intensive, and talk about any questions you may have. At the end of the intensive, you will also receive 3-5 appropriate exercises for you to continue to work on with your child. These exercises can be video recorded or written down for your reference.
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Since the intensives are several days long the first day will be used as an assessment day where I assess skills, functional limitations, and strength deficits.
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In the following days, we will be completing a series of DMI exercises to help achieve goals that were initially discussed
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The last day will be a review of the Home Exercise Program