The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S. Olympic Training Facility, is proud to host a very special group of individuals in the “Miracles On Ice” program.
“Miracles on Ice” is the nation’s only program of its kind, where those stricken with cerebral palsy and other physical and mental handicaps take to the ice for both fun and therapy. MJ Care, a Pettit sponsor, leads the daily on-ice therapy sessions for many patients. One such patient who utilizes skating to it’s fullest potential is 8-year old Nick Salerno of Kenosha.
Every Monday night, Nick and his dad Mark make the trek to the Pettit for a skating session with Nick’s MJ Care Therapist. The skating Nick partakes in is part of an ongoing therapy and is a different approach to his usual practices. Through skating, Nick is able to use new muscles that he never usually uses. Skating not only hits a lot of his usual dormant joints, but also helps him to lift his feet and simulate walking.
Independence is another valued lesson that Nick is learning through his skating at the Pettit. When he first started back in February, Nick could only skate about 50 meters, now he can successfully skate around the Pettit’s Olympic Oval six times (that’s 2400 meters!) during one therapy session. With skating, Nick has a lot of free-range motion in his hips and legs, which is key in helping him work to his ultimate goal of being able to walk on his own.
“Nothing can simulate the great use of muscles that skating can,” says Nick’s father Mark, an avid hockey player, who finds great joy in seeing his son enjoy and find value in skating. “Skating is another piece of Nick’s work and one where we have seen a great benefit to his ongoing therapy.”
Besides the importance to his health and therapy, the skating helps Nick socially as well. He learns and trains not only along side other handicapped kids, but other people who are skating at the Pettit that day. It is not uncommon to hear another skater offer words of encouragement or even clap for Nick as he takes his spins along the ice.
Skating is a high point of Nick’s week and helps him stay motivated by keeping his muscles loose and a smile on his face.
For more information on the “Miracles on Ice” program, Nick Salerno or any other details of therapeutic skating, please contact Rob Multerer by phone at 414.266.0100, ext. 132 or email at rmulterer@thepettit.com.
Contact: Rob Multerer
Director of Marketing
Pettit National Ice Center
414.266.0100, ext. 132z
rmulterer@thepettit.com
