I am Jim Clark. I attended Tuskegee University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education. I then attended the University of Pennsylvania where I studied to become a Registered Physical Therapist. For 50 years I worked in the Los Angeles California area treating patients who had Strokes, Spastic Cerebral Palsy, and various other medical problems.
For several years I worked with Spastic Cerebral Palsy children and noted that the children were not progressing employing routine range of motion and strengthening exercises as I was taught in college. For several years I toyed with several ideas I felt might work to improve the conditions of the children. Nothing at first worked.
Then finally one day I came to the conclusion that the myotatic stretch reflex was the main causative factor behind the children's problem. After employing specific stretching exercises to the trunk and hips I began to observe that the children ascended the developmental scale in more a positive manner. A child was observed flat on his back and unable to roll or sit. In the passing of a number months, the child was able to roll over onto his abdomen, extend his neck, and push up using his arms.
Principles employed treating the Spastic Cerebral child was applied to treating stroke patients.
