RAINBOW ACRES BLOG

In the last entry, we spoke about the various levels of the Tactile System.  We learned where each level or reflex is located in the brain and which fine motor skill each controls.  Today, let’s take an even closer look at the Tactile System and how it affects our life.

Do you know someone who is loud in all of their movements?  They walk loudly, shut doors loudly, hug too firmly, handle objects too roughly, and often are clumsy?  These actions are often seen as behavior issues, leading us to want to respond saying something like “gently, please” or “quiet, please”.  The reality is, however, that this kind of loud behavior can be a result of how the tactile system is developed.  If an individual has missed the steps that help regulate fine, quiet movement, loudness might be the only thing the individual is physically capable of.

The Neurodevelopmental Approach can help interpret this kind of behavior and identify how an individual takes in tactile information.  There are many types of nerve cells that are responsible for taking in and absorbing all types of touch, pressure, temperature, and other tactile input.  If these nerve cells do not receive input correctly, the output will be skewed.  For example, if the neuro-network that processes temperature is damaged or skewed, you may not be able to dress appropriately for the weather (e.g wearing a sweater in the summer or a t-shirt in the winter).

If an individual walks up stairs too loudly, it is likely due to deficiency in their muscles’ proprioceptors.  Proprioceptors help us know where we are in space in relation to other things.  The problem may also be with the nerve cells that sense pressure.  When an individual walks up stairs too loudly, their nerve cells may not be correctly taking in the information that their foot has touched the step, leading to a harder footstep in order to feel the stair.  The same is true for fine motor capabilities.  An individual will not be able to grasp a pencil or tie shoes correctly if he or she cannot sufficiently feel the pencil or laces.  One could spend months trying to correct an individual’s behavior, but until the issues with the Tactile System are addressed, the loud behavior will continue.

This instance of a gap between tactile sensitivity is known as Hypotactility.  Next time, we will look at Hypertactility.

At Rainbow Acres, the T.E.t.R.A. equestrian program plays a vital role in the holistic care for the Ranchers.  As part of the program, Ranchers learn responsibility, gain self worth, and have a whole lot of fun!  Recently, T.E.t.R.A. has been working through the cirriculum for Anatomy & Physiology 101 (AP101) in Equine Exploration class.  As part of this class, Ranchers are learning about the nine different physical systems (skeletal, respiratory, endocrine, etc.) of the horse.  The goal is to be able to identify at least two parts from each system and the physiology, or function, behind each system.

But who wants to sit in a classroom all the time?  Not our Ranchers!  To make AP101 more hands-on, the Ranchers painted various internal structures that they had been learning about on Rubia – our patient and understanding Ranch horse.  By making the images, the Ranchers identified and learned more about the heart, stomach, intestines, kidneys, lungs, trachea, esophogus and the skeleton.  After the lesson, they got to give Rubia a bath!

The Ranchers had a blast painting Rubia, but in addition to all the fun, they had a real sense of learning and understanding.  It is one thing to watch a power point, but being able to transfer that knowledge to a living horse takes some skill.  When a person looks at a horse and is asked to identify where a specific part is, there are no arrows pointing to the correct answer.  The person must use their imagination and think about what goes on underneath the skin, and then make a judgment call as to where that particular part is.  As always, our Ranchers do an excellent job!

One thing Neurodevelopmental Therapy has taught us here at Rainbow is that the brain is a complicated place.  In our Central Nervous System, we have nerve pathways that both take in information and put out information.  These are called input and output pathways.  In just one of these input pathways, there are up to nine levels!  Let’s take a look at one such system – the tactile system:

Level I: Babinski

- The Babinski reflex is located in the early brain stem and cord.  It is present at birth and by one year of age should show up negative.  The presence of the Babinski reflex in anyone over one year of age is indicative of lower level reflexes not progressing the way they should.

Level II: Pain

- Pain is located in the Brain Stem and Early Subcortical areas.  Perception of sensations vital to the continuation of life such as deep pressure.

Level III: Gnostic

- The Gnostic reflex is located in the Midbrain and Subcortical areas.  It is marked by an appreciation of more intricate pressure, such as light touch.

Level IV: Third Dimension

- The Third Dimension is located in the Initial Cortex.  It is characterized by fine motor tactile ability.  An example of this kind of motor ability might turning pages in a book.

Level V: Trigeminal and Temperature

- These are located in the Early Cortex.  They are characterized by appropriate responses to stimulation of the trigeminal nerve (which covers the entire head area) and to varying temperatures.

Level VI: Olfactory and Gustatory

- These are located in the Early Cortex.  They are characterized by appropriate responses to various smells and appropriate eating of different textures and tastes.

Level VII: Stereognosis I

- This is located in the Primitive Cortex.  It is characterized by the ability to manipulate large objects and tell by feeling what an object is.

Level VIII: Stereognosis II

- This is located in the Sophisticated Cortex.  This is the fine motor ability to tell without looking which coin you are holding and which side of the coin you are feeling.

Level IX: Proprioception

- This is located in the Sophisticated Cortex.  This is brain’s unconscious knowledge of where the body is in space.

Weaving is an important crew activity at Rainbow Acres.  Along with other activities like crafts and stepping stones, weaving is part of Rainbow’s vocational program that helps Ranchers find a purpose and a role on the Ranch.  Furthermore, weaving is an excellent way for Ranchers to engage in artistic expression.

The Rainbow Acres weavers were winners at the Verde Valley Fair held last weekend in Cottonwood, AZ.  Each Rainbow Acres weaver entered at least one item that they had recently made.  Brent and Robert entered rugs.  Safia entered placemats.  Pauline entered a purse.  Julie entered potholders.  Jack entered a shawl.

Brent’s rug, which had shades of white, gray and black, won second place.  Robert’s rug, which was made of silky gold and cranberry shag, won third place.  All other Rainbow entries received ribbons for Honorable Mention.  What an accomplishment!  The competition was against members of the Verde Valley Weavers guild, as well as other weavers in the area, so competition was stiff!

At the event, the Verde Valley Weavers Guild made a special display in memory of Betty Saylor – a former member of the Guild, as well as a former Rainbow Acres caregiver and weaving crew leader.  It was lovely to see Betty honored at the event.  It was also great to honor her contributions to the weaving program by doing so well in the competition.

The Neurodevelopmental Approach began in 1940s when a young physical therapist named Glenn Doman was taken under the wing of medical pioneer and brain surgeon, Dr. Temple Fay.  Throughout the following decades they were joined by other physical therapists, nurses, educators, psychologists, psychiatrists and speech therapists.

They initially set out to help brain injured children.  At one point they compared all the children they were able to treat with the ones they had assessed but were not able to follow through with treatment.  They frequently found that the ones who were left to their own devices were much better than the children who were being treated regularly.

They sat down together and consented each in turn to be interrogated by their colleagues as to what methods each used and why and why not other methods.  They concluded that the methods chosen by each were used because that is what each had been taught to do, not necessarily because they knew the methods would work.   This inspired them to set out and discover the means by which they might bring about their goal of rehabilitation for the brain injured.  The group  became a research team studying exactly how children typically develop.  They observed hundreds of children from birth, here in the United States and also in other cultures and other parts of the world.  From indigenous groups in the far north to tribes in the Amazon, they sought the answer to what makes us all function.

After years of research the team finally arrived at 42 steps that everyone goes through in development that makes them function normally.  Collectively, these steps are called the Developmental Profile.  In the weeks to come, we will take a closer look at the Developmental Profile for it is the Profile that provides the basis for our evaluation process.

Check back in to learn more!

I am always amazed at how caring the Ranchers and employees are at Rainbow Acres. They are always ready to show their love and appreciation with a hug and a kind word. This past week, the Ranchers and staff again reminded me of the loving and caring spirit that is shared here at Rainbow.

When I closed my office on on Tuesday, May 4th, there was a note on the door announcing that May 5th was Hug Your Nurse day.  I had no idea who put it there, but it did make me smile.

On my way out, I stopped by a Rancher house, where they all seemed to also know that May 5th was Hug Your Nurse day.  But they didn’t want to wait to give me a hug – they wanted to hug me NOW.  They also wanted assurance that they could hug me on Wednesday as well!

When Wednesday came, I was greeted by a line outside my office of Ranchers waiting to hug their nurse.  It was the same during lunch, even though it was one of the most popular food days – Starlene’s homemade pizza!  All day I received love and affirmation for the job I do daily, and sometimes take for granted.

As it turns out, the sign on my door was written by Rainbow Acres Admissions Coordinator Dee Whitt, who believed that acknowledging the hard work of her fellow employees is important.  She wanted me to be affirmed by the entire Ranch community, and boy was I affirmed!  Only at Rainbow Acres could you begin and end your work day feeling so loved and appreciated for what you do day in and day out.  I am truly blessed.

- Chris Walker
Director of Health & Wellness