If you are a Paediatric Physiotherapist, we would love to hear from you. It would be great to connect, and share ideas and concerns.
At The Movement Centre we provide physiotherapy for children and specialise in Targeted Training, an evidence based, life changing therapy, for children who have Cerebral Palsy and other movement disabilities.
Targeted Training has been developed to help children with movement disabilities gain control of their movement. Through a course children can gain new skills and independence, which can have a huge impact on their lives.
Many of the children who come to The Movement Centre have Cerebral Palsy or Global Developmental Delay, but Targeted Training therapy can also be suitable for children who have an acquired brain injury, Down Syndrome and other Genetic Disorders. We work closely with families and the course of therapy is tailored to each child’s specific needs.
Support is given directly beneath where control is an issue. As each child makes progress the level of support is lowered so that they can continue to develop movement control. This mimics the way in which movement control is naturally developed in a young infant, from the head downwards.
Every child has an initial assessment to determine if Targeted Training is suitable. If so, a specialist standing frame will be supplied. Targeted Training is specific and accurate, and you will be given guidance and support to practice the therapy at home. Continuity is important and we ask families to commit to 30 minutes a day.
We use various outcome measures to monitor changes and progress in the child’s journey with us at The Movement Centre. Our main outcome measure is the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo). A Paediatric Physiotherapist working in the NHS may use SATCo, or it will be known to them. Trunk or ‘core’ control is recognised as a vital component of overall control of posture, and is the reason we use this measure during our assessments. The SATCo measure tests the child’s trunk control and evaluates progressive changes segmentally from the head down. The SATCo is a validated test that is internationally recognised. Our results clearly show an improvement in trunk control across all ability levels and this provides a basis for progress in functional activities. These results support the improvements recorded with other outcome measures in use at The Movement Centre.
Both at the start and during the child’s course of therapy goals are also set and the period to achieve the goal is recorded. The goals are based on selections from the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), an assessment system familiar to therapists, and which provides clear descriptors of each activity. Each skill heading includes between four and 11 separate goals and a child may gain all or some of these goals during their course of therapy. Last year, which was our 25th anniversary, eighty percent of the goals set were achieved by children attending our centre.
Targeted Training has been developed to help children with movement disabilities gain control of their movement. Many of the children we see have a diagnosis, such as Cerebral Palsy, or Global Developmental Delay but we welcome any family with a child, or medical professional working with a child who finds it difficult to control their movement to get in touch with us.
So, if you are a Paediatric Physiotherapist, we would love to hear from you. You can refer a patient to us by using the link below or if you would like to chat to us first then call 01691 404248.
Sarah Bew, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist
sarah@themovememtcentre.co.uk