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Vojta Therapy

Vojta therapy is a treatment method developed by Dr. Vaclav Vojta based on reflex locomotion and developmental kinesiology. It involves applying light pressure to specific zones of the body to elicit involuntary motor responses and movement patterns. This is meant to activate the central nervous system and modify reflex activity. Vojta therapy can be used to treat disorders of the central nervous system and musculoskeletal system for patients of any age, including conditions like cerebral palsy, stroke, hip dysplasia, and respiratory distress syndrome.

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Prashu Jain
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2K views4 pages

Vojta Therapy

Vojta therapy is a treatment method developed by Dr. Vaclav Vojta based on reflex locomotion and developmental kinesiology. It involves applying light pressure to specific zones of the body to elicit involuntary motor responses and movement patterns. This is meant to activate the central nervous system and modify reflex activity. Vojta therapy can be used to treat disorders of the central nervous system and musculoskeletal system for patients of any age, including conditions like cerebral palsy, stroke, hip dysplasia, and respiratory distress syndrome.

Uploaded by

Prashu Jain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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VOJTA THERAPY

DESCRIPTION
VOJTA-THERAPY IS A DYNAMIC NEUROMUSCULAR TREATMENT
METHOD BASED ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL KINESIOLOGY AND
PRINCIPLES OF REFLEX LOCOMOTION. THIS METHOD IS SUPPOSED TO
TREAT PATIENTS WITH DISORDERS OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM. IT WAS DEVELOPED BY CHILD
NEUROLOGIST PROF. VACLAV VOJTA IN THE 20TH CENTURY AND NOW
USED PREDOMINANTLY IN EUROPE.
WHAT IS A REFLEX LOCOMOTION?
REFLEX IS AN INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT AS A RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL
STIMULI. LOCOMOTION IS DEFINED AS AN ABILITY TO PERFORM A
MOVEMENT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. IN REFLEX LOCOMOTION,
THERE IS A COORDINATED, RHYTHMIC ACTIVATION OF THE TOTAL
SKELETAL MUSCULATURE AND A CNS RESPONSE AT VARIOUS CIRCUIT
LEVELS.
INDICATION
ACCORDING TO VOJTA, THIS THERAPY CAN BE APPLIED TO THE
PATIENTS OF ANY AGE GROUP AND CAN BE USED AS STANDARD
THERAPY IN PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR ALMOST EVERY MOVEMENT
DISTURBANCE AND FOR NUMEROUS ILLNESSES:
• INFANTILE POSTURAL ASYMMETRY,
• CONGENITAL MUSCULAR TORTICOLLIS (“WRY NECK”),
• STROKE,
• CEREBRAL PALSY,
• LUMBOSCIATICA,
• HIP DYSPLASIA,
• RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS),
• MIGRAINE,
• PERIPHERAL PARALYSIS OF THE EXTREMITIES (E.G. PLEXUS
PARESIS, SPINA BIFIDA, PARAPLEGIA, ETC.),
• VARIOUS MYOPATHIES,
• PROBLEMS IN THE BREATHING, SWALLOWING AND CHEWING
FUNCTIONS.

IMPLEMENTATION
THE APPLICATION OF 4 VOJTA THERAPIES.
VOJTA DESCRIBES 10 DIFFERENT ZONES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
STIMULATE THE MOTOR PATTERNS OF REFLEX LOCOMOTION. A LIGHT
PRESSURE ON CERTAIN STIMULUS ZONE (MUSCLES OR BONES) AND
RESISTANCE TO THE CURRENT MOVEMENT IS APPLIED TO CAUSE
PATIENT'S INVOLUNTARY MOTOR RESPONSE AND PERFORMANCE OF
CERTAIN MOVEMENT PATTERNS.
THE VOJTA METHOD CAN BE DIVIDED INTO 2 MAIN PHASES:
1. REFLEX CREEPING (LYING flAT WITH THE CHEST DOWN AND BACK
UP)
2. REFLEX ROLLING (LYING flAT WITH THE CHEST UP AND BACK
DOWN)
REFLEX LOCOMOTION IS ACTIVATED FROM THE THREE MAIN
POSITIONS:
• PRONE,
• SUPINE,
• SIDE LYING.
INTERVENTION MECHANISM
THE REFLEX LOCOMOTION ELICITED BY VOJTA THERAPY IS ASSOCIATED
WITH SPECIFIC CHANGES IN CORTICAL AND SUBCORTICAL BRAIN
ACTIVATION WHEN COMPARED TO THE SHAM TREATMENT.
TACTILE STIMULATIONS ON PRE-DEFINED ZONE OF BODY ACTIVATES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. IF STIMULATION IS GIVEN CORRECTLY
AND REPEATEDLY, MOTOR PATTERN GENERATED ARE LEARNED BY
BRAIN AND COULD BE EXECUTED VOLUNTARILY BY AN INDIVIDUAL.
MOREOVER, IT CAN ACTIVATE VEGETATIVE AND AUTONOMIC
REACTIONS SUCH AS EYE COORDINATION, JAW AND TONGUE
MOVEMENTS, BOWEL AND BLADDER COORDINATION, SUCKING,
SWALLOWING AND BREATHING.
VOJTA THERAPY AIMS TO
•MODIFY THE REFLEX ACTIVITY BY INTRODUCING A DFFERENT
NEUROLOGICAL ACTIVITY TO GIVE A NEW PHYSICAL AWARENESS, OR
MUSCULAR PROPRIOCEPTION(BALANCE)
•MODIFY SPINAL REFLEXES INVOLVED IN CO-ORDINATING A
MOVEMENT
• IMPROVE BREATHING TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY OF FUNCTIONS
• PROMOTE GROWTH OF INNATE ANATOMICAL LOCOMOTOR SYSTEMS
•ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OF MOVEMENT-ASSOCIATED NEURAL
PATHWAYS
•PREVENT ORTHOPAEDIC DEGRADATION IN SEVERE PATHOLOGICAL
CONDITIONS
• DELAY DEGENERATIVE NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTION.

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