Imagine a world where every child, regardless of their physical challenges, can stand tall, take a step, and embrace the joy of movement. For children with Cerebral Palsy (CP), this vision is becoming a reality through Targeted Training therapy. This specialised approach to physiotherapy empowers children with CP to overcome physical limitations and reach new milestones in mobility and independence. In this blog, we’ll explore how Targeted Training therapy works, its incredible benefits, and why it’s a game-changer for children. We make sure children are thriving with Cerebral Palsy.
THRIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
Cerebral Palsy affects thousands of children, approximately 1 in 400 live births in UK every year. Cerebral palsy brings unique challenges to each individual child. Take a moment to imagine the daily struggle of a child with CP—simple actions like sitting up, reaching out for a toy, or taking a step require tremendous effort. Muscle tightness, lack of coordination, and limited range of motion can make even the smallest movements a challenge. These physical difficulties often come with emotional struggles too, as children face barriers in playing with friends or participating in activities they love. The types of CP can include:
- Spasticity: Muscle stiffness that restricts movement.
- Dyskinesia: Involuntary movements or difficulty controlling muscles.
- Ataxia: Problems with balance and coordination.
But there’s a critical window of time during early development when Targeted Training therapy can make a life-changing difference. This is where Targeted Training comes into play, offering a path to greater mobility and independence—a beacon of hope for parents and children alike.
What is Targeted Training and Why Does it Work?
So, what makes Targeted Training so special? Unlike conventional physiotherapy, Targeted Training is a physiotherapy for children with movement difficulties to help children gain control of their movement. Through a course children can gain new skills and independence, which can have a huge impact on their lives.
Through a course of Targeted Training therapy children can gain head control, so they can interact with their family; it can help children develop the skills to sit unaided, so that they can play with their friends. For some children it can enable them to walk, which means they can be far more independent!
“Stabilizing the orientation of the head is a priority task for the nervous system for the movement performance to be accurate”
Targeted Training replicates normal development of the upright posture. It focuses on the fact that control develops down the head.
Rimsha Abdullah