Conductive Education - Techniques

In practice, conductive education is a learning program for people with motor disabilities. It focuses on the practical functions of daily life and teaches individuals skills that will enhance their daily functioning and increase their independence. The primary aim is to teach children and adults with a neurological disability to control their movements and to function in society. The main concept is educational rather than medical.

The programs are run with groups of 10 to 15 individuals held together by a conductor. The conductor, who has been trained for 4 years in areas of psychology, basic sciences and the teaching methodology, is responsible for the structure, rhythm and tempo of each session. The mode of teaching is verbal, with the conductor calling out instructions for each activity as it is being done. The members are encouraged to join in with the calling, which may be in the form of counting or saying a word which emphasizes the action (e.g. 'stretch, stretch, stretch').

At the beginning of each session is a warm up that is different for each individual. The session progresses through several different activities in a variety of positions: lying down, moving into sitting, standing and walking.

The activities vary from simple to more difficult, with an emphasis on the accomplishment of a task. The sessions are goal orientated, although the means to accomplishment may differ with each individual. Each activity is directed towards a specific function commonly difficult for the individual. With PD, for example, a task could be rolling over. Successful achievement of this function is the goal.

The conductor is responsible for keeping the tempo of the session as well as being firm and encouraging. 'Rhythmical intention' is used to maintain motivation and helps people initiate the movement and continue to move through the exercises smoothly. Practice is viewed not as a mechanistic repetition of meaningless motor acts but as a conscious process of learning optimal motor solutions to particular problems. Again, this emphasizes the point that the achievement of the functional goal is of the utmost importance.

	Conductive Education
		Background
		Techniques
		Supporting Media