Overview - How It Works - Who Uses It - Research

CASE STUDIES

Sensory Integration Disorder
A.E., a nine-year-old girl diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder, exhibited poor fine motor coordination and balance and had a history of multiple tantrums each day. She also had a D average in math. After 5 weeks of IM training, her parents reported A.E. riding her bicycle without training wheels for the first time. Her concentration had improved dramatically, and she earned an A and B on her next two math tests. Her parents also reported a drastic decrease in the frequency and duration of her emotional outbursts.

Leg Prosthesis and DCD
J.G. was born missing the portion of his right leg below the knee, with dislocated hips, and without ligaments in his left knee. Additionally he suffered from Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). He had severe motor deficits and poor balance and coordination. As a result, he often fell. He walked awkwardly and only with the use of his walker. At age 8, J.G. participated in IM treatment. During the early sessions J.G. showed dramatic progress with hand coordination but was easily frustrated by his balance deficit. After focusing his treatment on the use of his prosthesis, J.G. was soon shifting his weight with ease and could alternately tap his toes without holding on to anything for balance. Within a short time, J.G. could walk with ease without using any assistive devices. After IM, he began playing basketball, football, and soccer with his brothers for the first time.

Asperger Syndrome
An eight-year-old male diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome was referred for Interactive Metronome training. This otherwise healthy patient had difficulty completing tasks, following directions, and cooperating in a group environment, and he often displayed tantrums. After completing treatment, he demonstrated improved transitioning, greater independence, decreased frustration, and reduced tantrums (both in number and intensity).

ADHD & Learning Disabilities
D.C. was 5 years old when she was diagnosed with ADHD and severe learning disabilities. She had demonstrated poor attention and concentration and had great difficulty processing multiple instructions. At age 8, she was enrolled in IM treatment. During her first visit, her therapist reported, “She was bouncing off the walls. She got in the chair and tried standing on her head.” After two weeks of IM treatment, she sat down and read her mother a book. D.C. was able to sit quietly for up to 20 minutes. “I couldn’t believe this was my child,” her mother stated.

Amputee
B.C. had an amputation at age 35. After her BKA, she underwent intensive inpatient rehabilitation as well as four months of traditional outpatient rehabilitation with poor outcomes. She could not walk without assistive devices and experienced pain and depression. After undergoing thousands of IM repetitions, she experienced increased motor control, regained her balance, and developed a smooth and symmetrical gait. Within eight months of IM therapy, B.C. ran and completed a full marathon.

Autism
Derek was eight years old and affected by Autism. Before taking going through Interactive Metronome ®, he had extremely poor motor planning capabilities and severe ADD. At first, Derek was unable to perform most of the IM exercises or scored in the lowest percentiles, and he was unable to complete a session due to exhaustion. Yet within a month, his motor planning and coordination began to improve steadily. After six months the changes were dramatic. Derek became more social, his coordination improved and he began to enjoy and participate more actively in sports and physical activities. His ability to focus improved so much that his teachers thought he had begun taking a new medication.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
D.S. suffered a TBI in a car accident when he was 19 years old. After years of therapy, he was able to relearn primary gross motor and speech functions but displayed very jerky motions, an unstable waddle-like walk, and a severe speech stutter. At age 38, D.S. underwent IM treatment. By the time D.S. had completed his sixth IM session, he had significantly improved precise gross motor control of his arms. Upon completing the program, D.S.'s physician remarked, “D.S.’s dramatic overall improvement over a period of only five weeks is absolutely amazing.”

Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)
A 46-year-old mortgage manager sustained a CVA and presented with a vestibular disorder. He suffered from severe dizziness during head and eye movement, mild problem-solving difficulties, pronounced ataxic gait, poor coordination, jumping difficulties, and loss of balance. After 11 sessions with the Interactive Metronome, the patient performed all advanced balance skills with improved coordination. For example, he could jump and perform jumping jacks without loss of balance and his incidents of dizziness decreased significantly. He became more independent and displayed improved executive level problem-solving skills.