Vojta therapy is a physiotherapy treatment method developed by neurologist Václav Vojta in the 1960s. It aims to help people with diseases or injuries in the central nervous system regain their freedom of movement to the greatest extent possible.
What is Vojta therapy?
The therapy is used for disorders of the postural and musculoskeletal system. This is equally true for disorders or movement restrictions that originate in the nervous system. The therapy is used for disorders in the postural and musculoskeletal system. This also applies to diseases or movement restrictions originating from the nervous system. These impairments severely restrict or can completely block the movement patterns innate to humans, such as grasping, turning, walking and standing. The goal of Vojta therapy is to reactivate these movement patterns in people with disabilities of various kinds. The extent to which this is possible depends on the underlying disease or disability itself. To achieve the best possible effect, the therapy method works with the so-called reflex locomotion. Reflex is defined as an unconscious and uncontrolled reaction to a certain stimulus, whereby locomotion stands for locomotion. Reflex locomotion is therefore a movement forced by reflexes.
Function, effect, and goals
Vojta therapy can be used for numerous diseases. It is considered a basic therapy for almost any movement disorder. For a long time, the therapy was considered ineffective in adults and successful only in young children. The reason for this was the malleability of the central nervous system in children, which, however, decreases significantly in adults. These assumptions proved to be wrong. Although the easier malleability increases the chance of success, successes are also repeatedly achieved with this method in adults. The only prerequisite for Vojta therapy is a neuromuscular connection between the muscles and nerve pathways. As long as this conduction is present, the therapy can be used. One area of application is multiple sclerosis, for example. Here, the neurological potential is exploited. There are various indicators for the therapy. Thus, it can be used when movement disorders occur due to brain damage or in various muscle diseases. In addition, success can be achieved in various types of paralysis. These include paralysis of the arms and legs, as well as paraplegia, provided that the above condition is met. In addition, the therapy is used for coordination disorders in infancy. These can be attributed, for example, to various genetic diseases. In addition, Vojta therapy is used for people with limitations in the spine. This includes, for example, scoliosis, which is a spinal curvature. In addition, it is used for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, ischalgia and herniated discs. It is also a treatment of choice after strokes to help patients find a way back into life. The therapy can help to restore natural movement patterns as far as possible and thus make life easier again. Depending on the type, Vojta therapy can also be used to treat congenital deformities and associated incorrect weight-bearing. In addition, such misalignments can also be triggered by accidents and injuries and the pain they cause. On the other hand, the therapy should not be used when acute and inflammatory diseases are present. It is not designed or specialized for this purpose. The same applies to its use in people with brittle bones, as reflex locomotion can cause severe damage here. In addition, Vojta therapy should not be used for some cardiac and muscular diseases. Appropriate agreements should be made individually with the physician and physiotherapist to be treated. The therapy works with the triggering of stimuli by the therapist. These are activated from different basic positions. A variant is the activation when the patient is in a lying position. In this case, the stimulation leads to corresponding movement complexes, reflex crawling or reflex turning. In this way, movements are achieved that may not have been possible before for most patients.By combining and varying different stimuli and movements, a therapy program tailored to the affected person can thus be achieved. The therapy must be adapted to the disease and its course as well as the individual needs of the patient. A suitable therapy program is developed together with the therapist.
Risks, side effects, and hazards
Critics of Vojta therapy mainly target the use of the methods on infants. In this they are supported by mothers of affected children. The reason for this is the crying of the infants during the therapy session, which leads to psychological stress for the mother. She is thereby forced to suppress the need for protection. There is also the fear of subconsciously causing psychological damage to the children. The children might resent the parents’ treatment. The basis for this is the lack of understanding of infants with regard to forced movement. It is possible that children would perceive the therapy as mistreatment, which would have a negative effect on their mental development. The enormous stress to which parents and especially mothers are exposed during therapy is not to be despised. Field reports tell of incessant crying by the children. Frequently, pediatricians and therapists speak of possible scenarios that may befall the family if treatment is not continued. However, it is wise to first listen to different pediatricians and consider alternatives before parents decide to pursue Vojta therapy. In some cases, there are other treatment options that are less nerve-wracking and put less pressure on children. Therefore, Vojta therapy should be used with infants only when it is felt to be imperative by more than one party.
