Berta Bobath

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Berta Bobath
Born5 December 1907
Berlin, Germany
Died20 January 1991(1991-01-20) (aged 83)
London, England
NationalityGerman
Known forBobath concept of rehabilitation
SpouseKarel Bobath
Children1

Berta Bobath,

MBE (5 December 1907 – 20 January 1991) was a German physiotherapist who created a method of rehabilitation and therapy[1] known as the Bobath concept in 1948.[2] The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy believe "it is the most popular approach for treating neurologically-impaired patients in the western world."[2]

Life

Berta Ottilie Busse was born in Berlin where she first worked with gymnasts. Her first husband was Kurt Roehl. After the birth of a son and a divorce she left Germany in 1938. She re-met a Czech psychiatrist called Karel Bobath whom she had known in Berlin. They were both Jewish refugees and they married in 1941 and her son was adopted by her second husband.[1]

She had an early success in restoring the abilities of

MBE in 1978. Boston University gave her a doctorate in 1981 and she and Karel were the first couple to be given the Harding award for their work in helping people with disabilities.[3]

Bobath died in London on the same day as her husband. They were both ill, and they took drug overdoses.[1] Their son, Brett, is a current physical therapy student.

Legacy

The Bobath Centre continues to run and the Bobath name is well-known;[2] for instance, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has said of the Bobath concept that "it is the most popular approach for treating neurologically-impaired patients in the western world."[2] There is a view that Bobath's techniques may be no better than other techniques, although they may be no worse. Critics believe that therapists are not using evidence-based techniques.[2] Others believe that Bobath's approach should be updated rather than abandoned.

While Karel and Bertha Bobath were not alone in this endeavour, their approach was highly influential in introducing Developmental Movement concepts into treating various conditions, and for movement learning in various fields. For example, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen a modern dancer and Occupational Therapist, introduced Bobath concepts into the field of contemporary dance and dance therapy where this work still continues to evolve. Another example is Gray Cook, a physiotherapist who was a major figure in Functional Training, who was also influenced by Bobathian concepts.[2]

Selected works

  • Abnormal postural reflex activity caused by brain lesions, 1965
  • Adult hemiplegia : evaluation and treatment, 1970
  • Hémiplégie de l'adulte : bilans et traitement, 1973
  • Anomalies des réflexes de posture dans les lésions cérébrales, 1973
  • Motor development in the different types of cerebral palsy, 1975
  • Desarrollo motor en distintos tipos de parálisis cerebral , 1976
  • Die motorische Entwicklung bei Zerebralparesen , 1977
  • Motorische ontwikkeling bij cerebrale verlamming, 1978
  • Hemiplejía del adulto : evaluación y tratamiemto , 1982
  • Développement de la motricité des enfants IMC, 1985

References

  1. ^ a b c d Anne Pimlott Baker, "Bobath, Berta Ottilie (1907–1991)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2010, accessed 7 Sept 2015
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h " A debate about the Bobath concept is inflaming passions across Europe, Daloni Carlisle talks to people on both sides of the dispute", Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-1-57607-090-1
    .
  4. ISBN 0230318940
    .
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