ABR - The Method of Soft Tissue Remodelling

For a special needs child each small improvement opens up a new world. The
ability to swallow, to chew, to make sounds, to smile, to speak, to begin to
crawl or even walk all these the healthy person takes for granted. But the
special needs child fights for function against intense odds.
ABR shows that functional limitations are governed by deficient bodily
structural elements. Any attempt to train a special needs individual will
necessarily be restricted by the persons insufficient structure. Who would try
to make a horse learn to fly? Yet, trying to make a child with insufficient core
structures learn to crawl or to walk has similar chances for success.
ABR Denmark
Advanced Biomechanical Rehabilitation
Courses
ABR Denmark has developed a variety of training programs in order to accommodate individual
parental needs.
ABR CP Wellness An introduction to ABR designed for parents who would like to get to know the ABR
technique and begin to implement it at their own pace at home. This course teaches basic ABR core
strengthening applications that improve the respiration and metabolic functions - giving a foundation
for further development. It entails one training day and apre-assessment.
ABR Intensive This is our traditional course. Here the parents learn to master the ABR technique in all
of its forms including the manual technique, active exercises, PAVES, brushing techniques, and the
ABR machine usage. This course maximises the effect that ABR can achieve through a selective strategy
of applications. It includes a yearly assessment with Leonid Blyum.
ABR Speech Facilitating Course In this course parents with children with speech difficulties learn the
ABR applications that directly target the speech organism. The ABR method strengthens the soft tissues
structures such as the mouth floor and trachea, helps to unlock jaw movement and develops the mimic
muscles involved in speaking.
ABR and PAVES Especially for Stroke Victims. This course is for motor impaired adults who wish to
work independently. The active ABR exercises as well as several manual applications that the patients
can perform themselves are taught in these courses.
ABR Therapy Device For families who do not have the time and resources to implement the ABR
manual or active exercises it is still possible to realise some of the ABR rehabilitative effects with the
use of the ABR Massage Device. Such families can integrate the ABR Massage Device into their daily
routine as it can be used at any time of the day or during the sleeping periods.
Awareness Through Movement These courses based upon various methods involving sensory
awareness - exhibit another aspect of our child developmental support. The intricate process of the
healthy childs motor development in the first year of life gives the basis for the understanding. Here
the importance of the childs surroundings as a support for the development of his or her initiative and
self- motivation are addressed. These courses are offered to the parents for their general guidance and
also as individually tailored sessions for the children.
Tegning: Klara Pap, Emmi Pikler Lasst mir Zeit, S.211
What is ABR?
In individuals with cerebral palsy or other related illnesses affecting the function of the muscular skeletal
system, it is not only limb mobility that is disrupted. Moreover the bodies entire system of connective
tissues has been depleted. This means that core structures such as the neck, trunk and abdomen are
diminished in their proportion and relative volume. Weakness in the core structures directly translates
into poor limb function.
Why is this?
Imagine a globe with latitudinal and longitudinal lines. If one could deflate the globe, the nicely spaced
latitude and longitude circles on the globe would begin to twist and to tangle. It is exactly in this manner
that the structure of a motor impaired person has been affected.
Through generalised weakening of internal soft tissues, the relative positioning of the bones and joints
shifts substantially. The bones and joints are meant to give the body internal support and structure. If
they lose their relative placement, this distorts the positioning of the corresponding muscles and nerves
that follow the structure of the skeleton. The result is that the muscles cannot work as levers. The
ensuing severe muscular imbalance prohibits the establishment or maintanance of the body map,
making proper governance of the muscles by the central nervous system an insurmountable task. If
we try to force such a person to sit or to crawl, the internal background of fascia or connective tissue
support that is responsible for postural alignment and positioning is not functioning properly. The
skeleton related structures do not hold and give the needed support. Limited muscle groups are then
forced to take over general support functions. But, as muscles are not designed to do this sort of work,
they tire quickly and, in the long run, become increasingly stiff or spastic. The ABR technique is designed
to specifically address weak soft tissue structures. It works by improving the overall quality of the bodies
fascia and connective tissue system. Through a specialised method of repetitive application of pressure,
a slight deformation of existing soft tissues is achieved. The body reacts to this stimulus, by remodelling
and regenerating the areas that are being addressed. This is why ABR is able to dramatically improve
respiration and the structures responsible for speech and swallowing. Metabolic functions are
improved, general skeletal alignment and positioning follows, restoring mobility and allowing for new
or renewed motor function. Cognitive advancements as also being dependant upon the general health
of the individual also follow.
Horndrupvej 36,
DK-8660 Skanderborg
abrdanmark@mail.dk
0045 86 51 24 86
www.abr-denmark.com
ABR directly addresses the
patients structural
weaknesses through a
specially developed
method of soft tissue
remodelling. Improved
bodily structure removes
functional barriers and
allows for enhanced
developmental progress.
ABR FACTS
We recommend our free informational
DVD ABR Facts to parents and
caretakers of brain injured individuals as
an essential guide in their decision
making process. On hand from the
progress and changes in structure and
function of eight ABR patients - both
children and young adults - many of the
basic ABR concepts are clearly illustrated.
Our approach to rehabilitation is radically
new. ABR Facts provides a basis for
understanding the ABR rehabilitation
method.