Richard’s Work

Here are some examples of my work with the Adaptive Sports community.

Levi

Levi’s burning desire to play soccer at the highest level possible despite his cerebral palsy movement limitations which has impacted him since birth is the inspiration that started www.CPSoccer.us.  This non-profit organization has grown throughout the United States and serves as a farm team organization for the US Para-7-A Soccer Team. https://youtu.be/PQoF_f44HRU

Levi and Richard have worked together since 2018. During this time Levi has experienced a positive change in his body awareness, mobility, coordination and energy level. One of the major breakthroughs Levi achieved in his session work with Richard is discovering his new ability to catch and throw a ball with his cerebral palsy effected right side. 

Using the somatic movement re-education principles of Trager work, a psychophysical movement modality developed by Dr. Milton Trager, the body will experience change. The brain receives guided movement information transmitted through a soft and gentle touch by the practitioner which is received through the clients muscle, fascia and impulse-transmitting neurons. This neuron impulse triggered by touch transmits the suggested lighter and free movement back to the brain. 

Nuroplasticity, which is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization rewrites the restricted movement pattern with the suggested movement pattern. These changes range from individual neurons making new connections, to systematic adjustments like cortical remapping. In the case of Levi these circuit and network changes resulted in a new ability. His experiencing a new series of motor possibilities encouraged him to develop the movement coordination needed to catch and throw with his CP affected right arm. 

Violet is pure expression of FUN. Her bright eyes and happy smile show no signs of the tremendous struggle this young girl and her parents had to endure to overcome a traumatic life threating injury that challenged her life. The deep emotional impact on a child who experienced  the complete loss of all motor skills requires courage, faith and pure dedication to over come.

In the 3 years of working closely with Violet she has developed the confidence to continue her healing journey and not settle on the physical limitations that still challenge her. One of Violet’s goals when we started was to develop her CP affected left hand and arm to a point where she could tie her own shoes utilizing both hands. She now ties her own shoes utilizing both hands!

Her parents reported that her overall deminer has shifted since we’ve been working together. She is more confident and emotionally stable. We are very honored to have worked with this beautiful young girl.

Shea is the first of many young CP and physically athlete’s I’ve had the honor serving. I first started working with Shea when he was 15 years old. Shea was quite clear that nothing was going to stop him from playing on the US Para-7-A-Side Soccer team. When we started Shea was all about getting the most out of his body. To the point where he had developed about 25% more muscle tone on his non impacted CP side. He would push himself to the point where his healthy side would just collapse under the strain. He often found himself injured and faced with long periods of recuperating. 

The big breakthrough for Shea happened when he discover what it feels like to be balanced in his body. The Trager work we used together did just that. It did not take long for him to become aware of his old patterns and shifting his awareness to slowing down his healthy side and allowing his CP affect side to catch up. Within 6 months of somatic movement re-education his muscle mass was significantly increased on his CP effected side. With this added strength, balance and coordination Shea was changing his game. He developed the ability and confidence to score from either his left or his right side. This positively impacted his game immensely! 

Shea’s dream to play on the US Para-7-A Side Soccer team came true. He is an active member of the team and has added to the teams medal winning streak. Shea is also the senior active member of the CPSoccer coaching staff and takes pride in being the role model these young athletes look up to as they work towards fulfilling their dreams to play soccer at the highest level possible. Shea is now attending Clemson University where he is studying physical therapy and hopes to make a difference in helping world class athletes compete. to be added