True Strides at Camp Courage has recently hired two massage therapists certified in occupational therapy to include in the therapeutic services they offer.
True Strides is a hippotherapy and therapeutic riding program offered through True Friends, an organization that provides camp and respite experiences to children and adults with disabilities, as well as their family and friends.
Hippotherapy uses horses to help with developmental and fundamental skills. Riding a horse mimics how the human body walks, and movement helps develop the brain, so in essence it’s teaching the brain how to use those muscles.
Therapeutic riding helps build strength and improves balance, coordination, confidence and self-esteem.
True Strides’ new certified occupational therapist, Mary Beth Larson, introduced massage to their program after she began volunteering there; she was hired in October. She’s worked at HCMC, St. Cloud Orthopedics and currently works at IPPMC as well as True Strides. She is also certified in aquatic therapy, hand therapy, and is advanced in a number of manual therapies.
Kim Anderson is True Strides’ new certified occupational therapy assistant. She previously worked at Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, and has a background in sensory integration therapy.
Larson and Anderson use myofascial release and craniosacral therapy in their work at True Strides.
Myofascial release treats muscle rigidness and pain by relaxing contracted muscles and stimulating the stretch reflex. It consists of a mixture of massage and stretching, and is applied with hands-on, kneading-style strokes that are meant to stretch, loosen, soften and lengthen muscle tissues.
Craniosacral therapy uses gentle touch to manipulate the joints in the skull and neck, balancing the craniosacral system that includes the bones, nerves, fluids and connective tissues of the cranium and spinal area.
Maple Lake resident Ellie Hofmeister is one of the people benefiting from the new massage therapy. Now 19, she was diagnosed with juvenile Huntington’s disease (JHD) at 13, one of approximately 40 nationwide.
Huntington’s disease is a genetic neurodegenerative disease that affects a person’s movement, emotions and thinking. It usually strikes adults; only 5 to 10% of people affected with HD develop symptoms at a young age. There is no treatment and no cure; focus is on increasing quality of life.
At 13 Hofmeister began having problems keeping up in school and difficulties in walking and speech, which led to her JHD diagnosis. Her symptoms have progressed slowly, however over time they will only continue to worsen.
“Ellie is still walking and we want her to keep going as long as possible,” said Tulenchik. “Coming to True Strides has made a huge difference.”
She said Hofmeister is a lot less rigid, able to walk better, is more confident, and her mood has improved.
“She loves it, she lives for it,” she said.
Hofmeister comes to True Strides one day each week. Her therapy begins with half an hour of myofascial massage, followed by an hour of hippotherapy and therapeutic riding.
The massage and stretching on the horse helps get Hofmeister’s muscles warmed up and ready. Riding bareback, she works on muscle stretching and strengthening, as well as softening her muscles on her own. In the saddle, she’s additionally working on stretching her heel cords.
Riding is also helping reteach her brain how to use her muscles and maintain that use.
Brushing the horses helps Hofmeister make emotional connections with them, which is good for her mental health. The social aspect of the program has also been beneficial for her.
“I didn’t think it [True Strides] would be that big of an impact on her, but it’s made an enormous impact,” said Tulenchik. “It helps her physically, gives her something to look forward to, and keeps depression away. Here she’s just having fun.”
For more information on True Strides, visit truestrides.org or email info@truestrides.org. To set up a free initial consultation, contact Shari Mangas at 952-852-0101 ext. 306.
