Mihdis Therapies

Mihdi's All Important Therapies

Seven days a week Mihdi must undergo and participate in various physical therapies that are a vital adjunct to his treatments and herbal prescriptions from Dr. Wu.

Mihdi's torso brace helps to hold his spine straighter after treatments and traction.

Mihdi is being measured for a new brace. He needs a new brace each year to accommodate his growth. Each brace costs $3,500.

He must wear it in all kinds of situations, even to the beach for some play time.

Therapy on the traction table is scheduled for two to four times a day. For each session on the table, it takes 3 minutes to "ramp up" for a 17 minute cervical traction hold time, followed by 2 minutes "ramp down", then change harness and go to 3 minutes "ramp up" for a 27 minute thoracic traction hold time, followed by 2 minutes "ramp down". The middle transition time can vary, but barring no interruptions like a bathroom break, one traction table session will take a minimum of 1 hour from beginning to end. The goal is to reach 20 minutes hold time for the cervical section, and 30 minutes of hold time for the thoracic section.
This is a grueling regimen for both of them to follow, but as Mihdi is looking and walking straighter, it is worth the tremendous effort.

Currently, because emphasis must be placed on traction therapy at this juncture in his treatment program, Mihdi's primary physical therapies are holdups and traction table time. The holdups are carried out by his father, every 10 minutes, except when Mihdi is in school, in treatment with Dr. Wu, or on the traction table.

Over the years, many other forms of physical therapy have been prescribed by Dr. Wu. They are instituted depending on the very specific needs of Mihdi's treatment program at a particular time, and each serves particular purpose. As mentioned earlier, traction is the focus at the moment. Other therapies are added when needed. Work on the parallel bars is of particular ongoing importance, as is hanging on the rings. Even crawling helps Mihdi's body uncurl and straighten and this is worked into beach recreation time. Tae Kwon Do developed strength in his lower body, stamina, and focus; gymnastics helped build strength and balance; swimming helped his immune system build defenses. Day in, and day out, Mihdi's life has been, and is one of hard work and continually effort in order to remain alive.
Needless to say, all of these therapies are expensive to fund. The $15,000 fund raising effort instituted in the late summer/fall of 2008 for the purchase of the traction table is an example of the costs involved for physical therapies.

Crawling, whether on the beach in twilight, or even later of an evening under the lights in a neighbourhood park, is essential and fortunately, can have a bit of a game aspect added to it.

Parallel bar work is also very important and is much more enjoyable when Sunny gets into the act, too.

Gymnastics, swimming and Tae Kwon Do, any or all can be on the schedule depending on Mihdi's physical therapy needs.

Many years ago Dr. Wu started teaching Mihdi qi gong exercises to help in his healing process. Here he is practising "Standing Like a Tree", a very ancient, and primary qi gong practise.

This is how traction therapy had to be done before the table was obtained. The table allows for a complete traction application.

(Elmo is a favourite.)

Even music lessons are therapy to help the development of Mihdi's mental faculties.