Conductive Education - Background

Professor Andras Peto established the State Institute for Conductive Education of the Motor Disabled in Budapest. This work was done mostly with children suffering from Spina Bifida, spasticity, and ataxia, but also with adult patients who suffered from Parkinson's disease (PD). The main aim of this therapy was to attain "orthofunction", or independent functioning in daily life.

The successor to Peto, Maria Hari, saw conductive education as a creative process that permitted the central nervous system to restructure itself. In addition to present understanding of the neuropathology of the condition, PD may be described neuropsychologically as causing a break in a functional system in which higher order mental functions usually remain intact.

At first, limited information about the work done with children was the only indication of the use for this type of therapy. However it seemed to suggest that adults with a motor disorder could benefit from the programs run at the Institute.

Students of the program have achieved some amazing results, suggesting that structural intervention and practice can bring about a neuropsychological reorganization with a significant rehabilitative outcome.

	Conductive Education
		Background
		Techniques
		Supporting Media