I was asked about this a couple of years ago and thought it was nothing more than intensive traditional therapy with big words wrapped around it.
Stay away, Integrative means nothing. You will notice that it only says research is underway, meaningless.
http://www.neuro-ifrahproducts.com/productcart/default.asp
Neuro-Integrative Functional Rehabilitation And Habilitation (NEURO-IFRAH®) is an approach originated by Waleed Al-Oboudi, MOT, OTR. Mr. Al-Oboudi is renowned nationally and internationally for his superior concepts and highly effective and unmatched clinical skills. The unique name of the approach was originated by the author to give an overall idea to the reader regarding the scope of this approach. The word Neuro- was selected because this approach is intended for patients who are affected by lesions at the level of the brain stem and above. The word Integrative was selected to describe that this approach is integrative on all levels. It is integrative of all systems of the person as well as all information past and present. It is integrative of all internal as well as external variables and combinations and products of these variables affecting patient response, normal or otherwise. It is integrative and inclusive of fields of study as well as bodies of information. It is integrative in terms of variables related to therapists, the rehabilitation team, rehabilitation programs, facilities, home, community, and other environmental variables…..It is integrative at all these levels and much more. Any variable that has an affect on the patient needs to be considered. The word Functional means meets intended purpose or need, thus the word functional was selected because this approach is functional. All aspects of rehabilitation and habilitation are individualized to meet the patients intended purpose or need. The words Rehabilitation and Habilitation were selected because this is what we do in therapy. It encompasses many aspects of therapy, thus there is no reason to find other words. One aspect of rehabilitation is to restore to the fullest physical, mental, social, vocational, economic status thus rehabilitation is not limited. However, our patients are not only re-acquiring skills they are learning new ones as well. Thus Habilitation occurs throughout alongside with rehabilitation.
My God they are integrated with the word integrative. So instead of describing scientific reasons for using the therapy they try to deflect by using the meaningless word integrative. Integrative is the new term for Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM), in other words, not scientific.
No listed research that I could find. Huge red herring.
I would like to share our experiences with the neuro-Ifrah treatment with Waleed. After losing all hope of any appreciable recovery from TBI a friend recommended Waleed for my wife. When we visited him she had already spent 6 months in a hospital and 2 more months in a rehab hospital. We were told she would be wheelchair bound and never walk. We spent a week with him and by the 4th day she was taking a few steps with help. There was none of the "no pain, no gain mentality." Since then we have only worked with people trained in neuro-Ifrah. She has more work to do, but can now take up to 100 steps with no help or assistive devises. Please be careful being negative on an approach unless you have a personal experience with it. It's a different approach, but I have seen amazing results with my wife and many other stroke and TBI survivors. If you would like to know more about the therapy I would be glad to help.
ReplyDeleteCould I get more information on your wife's progress? I had the therapy last week for one week.
DeleteConfirmation bias and anecdotes prove nothing. If this truly worked they would have scientific research to back it up. I distrust people who only use big words to bamboozle people into paying them.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.skepdic.com/confirmbias.html
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI believe that I am one of the instructors being referred to in the above blog post. The information posted is inaccurate. To post that “the big problem is Mr. Al-Oboudi himself who insists on keeping his techniques secret and does not allow his certified therapists to practice uninhibited by his control” is highly inaccurate and defamation. Mr. Al-Oboudi has shared more information than anybody. I know this first hand as he has more manuals out, used by therapists, than anyone else. I am currently in Hong Kong where he is sharing advanced information to therapists. I believe that there are like 47 different Neuro-IFRAH manuals out now all with very high reviews; however there are standards that a person in education has to be licensed, has to have had the basic courses and is demonstrating knowledge of the basic information. As a Neuro-IFRAH Instructor I have standards and I know that effective treatment cannot be taught to others by show and tell. Therapists must invest time and effort to develop the skill. It is hard to progress a student from the basic to advanced if they are not using the basic information. They need to apply the basic information before advancing to the next. We as therapists have standards that information is not shared through show and tell, people seeking information need to learn properly with proper training. This is done so that patients in the community are not harmed, the students develop proper skill to help the patient and not harm them.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the other instructor having a “falling out” is inaccurate as well, as there was a misunderstanding of the actual events.
The Neuro-IFRAH approach is wide in scope and is the only approach covering the entire spectrum. The Neuro-IFRAH approach has greatly improved my practice as a PT, taking me immeasurable lengths further in my practice beyond any/everything I had learned prior to being introduced to Mr. Al-Oboudi and Neuro-IFRAH. Any move to work closer with Mr. Al-Oboudi is by personal choice and for personal growth in my profession.
Spencer G.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI really don't give a damn about this since both of you are anonymous. But since this is not listed in either Canada Strokengine or PubMed or Google Scholar I will have to conclude there is nothing scientific backing this up. Until then there is nothing to discuss.
DeleteWell Mr. Spencer G. I guess you win because the first anonymous requested removal. When you can back up your opinions with peer reviewed research then we can have an intelligent discussion on the usefulness of your approach. Facts win out in the end.
DeleteI am a physical therapy who has taken a course in Neuor-IFRAH and work in stroke recovery. I completely agree that if they think their approach is as good as they say, it is their obligation to contribute to their field and conduct and publish research. Unfortunately, they appear to be extremely narcissistic and would rather profit from their therapy than contribute to the global therapy/medical community.
ReplyDeleteThat said, Neuro-IFRAH is not significantly different than most other therapy being taught and practiced, except that they are VERY good at analyzing human movement and facilitating recovery. I agree that you should be skeptical and look for evidence, and yes they should incorporate all current evidence into their practice. But do not disregard these therapists. They are good.
Its not a matter of "disregard." Its pretty simple; if there is no research, it is not evidenced based. Go to pubmed and type in "Neuor-IFRAH." There is nothing. And I can hear your reply "Well as a clinician I've seen this and that..." "Research does not have all the answers..." "Just because there is no research blah..." We've been down that road for so long. Its the Bobath rabbit hole. Tell you what, if, god forbid you are diagnosed with cancer, how are you feeling about the oncologist who says, "I have something that works." And you might say, "What are my chances?" And they would say, "Its never ever never been studied." And you will do...what exactly?
ReplyDelete