There are several treatment options to help your child develop their hand skills.
Developing your child's upper limb activity opens the door for them to participate in daily activities such as;
dressing, playing, self-care skills, hobbies & sports in future.
We know that the earlier we can support children, the better. Therefore we offer a range of intensive intervention packages.
How we support your child
From bimanual intensive therapy to Baby-CIMT, watch this short clip to see how we nurture and support your child.
Conditions we help with
Although this list is not extensive, here are the conditions we support children with
childhood stroke
cerebral palsy
hemiplegia
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
This is a highly specialist form of rehabilitation of a weaker or lesser-used arm or hand. Constraint-induced movement therapy involves rehabilitation of the 'weaker' or 'assisting arm' while restraining the stronger arm in a lightweight mitt or cast during specific motor learning activities.
There is a strong evidence base for CIMT, and there is a range of different dosage protocols and different constraint options. All of the protocols involve the need for daily targeted skills practice either in face-to-face therapy or via a supported home programme.
We also offer a range of modified constraint-induced movement therapy protocols where the constraint is worn for only targeted therapy and skills practice.
There are Baby-CIMT protocols that can be used in infants under 12 months of age.
Bimanual Intensive Therapy
Bimanual Intensive Therapy (sometimes models are referred to as Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy - HABIT) is focused on improving the use of two hands in daily activities.
All daily activities require us to use two hands from the moment we wake up and get dressed, open the lid on the toothpaste, open the cereal and pour the milk to simply open the door whilst holding a bag! For individuals with hemiplegia, these activities are extremely challenging.
Bimanual intensive therapy is different from constraint-induced therapy as both hands are used in the sessions. Activities and toys are carefully chosen to provoke and promote specific active two-handed actions, interplay’s and movements.
Bimanual intensive therapy differs from 'general two-handed occupational therapy advice’ as there is a prescribed daily practice amount and bespoke specific actions which are worked on specifically based on your child's upper limb function.
Evidence and clinical research has proven that the correct dosage and practice lead to motor learning and long term neuroplastic change. This means more transference and improvement in hand use during daily activities.
CIMT & BMIT are both interventions identified as effective for children with cerebral palsy and hemiplegia in research if they follow key therapeutic principles.
Early Intervention
Our early intervention packages are specifically aimed at supporting infants who may have had a difficult start in life. Your baby may have been born prematurely or have a medical condition that may affect their development.
Our early interventions focus on environmental enrichment. We support your baby's ability to move, to play, and to participate in daily activities, to tolerate sensations and to be able to regulate themselves emotionally and to help you build a strong emotional bond with each other.
UpLIT Programme
Our Upper & Lower Limb Intensive Therapy programme is a bespoke programme based on principles of the evidence-based intensive therapy Habit-ILE programme (Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy – including lower extremity). This focuses on improving the hands and mobility skills needed for daily activities.
Our UpLit program has been developed by our specialist occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Our therapists work with your child to identify which motor learning approaches or goal-oriented approaches are suited to your child’s current therapy goals.
An UpLit programme may involve locomotion training, strengthening programmes, goal-specific training, and constraint or bimanual upper limb therapy interventions.
Our programme delivers five-six hours of one to one therapy input daily for ten days with our specialist qualified occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Due to the goal-oriented nature it is best suited to children aged five-six and over.
Assessment & Treatment Packages
We offer a range of packages from daily therapy for a specific time period, weekly therapy for a specified period of time and developmental follow-up review packages where we assess your child using standardised assessments at specific intervals.
Contact us for a free screening call to discuss your child’s needs.
Get an understanding of therapy costs by visiting our costs & booking page.
Something else?
We also offer goal-oriented interventions, upper limb splinting and other interventions. See our treatment page.