Therapy Methods

VOJTA THERAPY

Vojta Therapy is one of the key approaches we use at Alex’s Place, particularly when working with babies and children with neurological conditions, developmental delay or difficulties with posture and movement.

The therapist places the child in specific positions and applies gentle, targeted pressure to particular areas of the body. This can activate coordinated movement patterns involving the trunk, arms and legs without the child having to consciously perform the movement.

The aim is to support better postural control, movement against gravity, coordination and access to more efficient movement patterns that can then be used during everyday activities.

An important part of Vojta Therapy is working together with parents. Where appropriate, parents can be taught carefully selected exercises to continue at home between therapy sessions.

NDT-BOBATH

The Bobath Concept, also known as Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT), is an individualised approach commonly used in neurological physiotherapy.

Rather than following a fixed set of exercises, the therapist looks carefully at how the child moves, where they need support and what may be making a particular activity difficult.

Through therapeutic handling, positioning and functional activities, we can help the child explore more efficient ways of moving and develop skills such as sitting, reaching, transitioning between positions, standing and walking.

Bobath principles can be incorporated naturally into play and everyday activities and are often combined with other treatment approaches.

PIMT – PAEDIATRIC INTEGRATIVE MANUAL THERAPY

Paediatric Integrative Manual Therapy (PIMT) combines specialised manual therapy with an understanding of child development and paediatric physiotherapy.

It allows us to look not only at how a child moves, but also at whether restrictions within the muscles, joints and surrounding tissues may be influencing posture, comfort or movement.

Treatment is individually tailored and may include gentle hands-on techniques together with developmental exercises and movement activities.

PIMT can be particularly useful when working with babies and children who have postural asymmetries, musculoskeletal difficulties, torticollis or developmental and neurological conditions.

DMI – DYNAMIC MOVEMENT INTERVENTION

Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) is an active therapy approach designed for babies and children with gross motor delay or difficulties developing movement skills.

During DMI, the therapist places the child in carefully selected positions and introduces dynamic challenges that encourage the child to actively respond. As the child progresses, the amount of support can gradually be reduced and the exercises can become more challenging.

DMI can be used to work on postural control, balance, coordination, strength and movement against gravity, helping children progress towards skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling, transitions, standing and walking.

Our therapists have undertaken DMI training across Levels A, B and C.

ELECTRICAL STIMULATION – E-STIM / FES

Electrical stimulation uses small, controlled electrical impulses to activate selected nerves and muscles.

For some children, this can be a useful addition to physiotherapy when a muscle is weak or difficult to activate voluntarily. Small adhesive electrodes are placed on the skin and the stimulation is adjusted specifically for the child.

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) combines this muscle activation with functional movement. Depending on the child’s needs, we may use electrical stimulation alongside activities such as sitting, standing, stepping, reaching or walking.

It is always individually assessed and used as part of a wider therapy programme rather than as a stand-alone treatment.

SENSORY INTEGRATION

Our senses constantly provide information about our body and the world around us. This includes what we see, hear and touch, as well as information about movement, balance and where our body is in space.

Some children find it more difficult to organise or respond to this sensory information, which can affect movement, play, attention, confidence or participation in everyday activities.

Sensory-based activities can be incorporated into therapy to provide the child with carefully selected movement and sensory experiences. These might involve swings, different surfaces, movement challenges, climbing or other play-based activities.

The activities are adapted to the individual child and can help create the right level of challenge while keeping therapy motivating and enjoyable.

PNF – PROPRIOCEPTIVE NEUROMUSCULAR FACILITATION

PNF is a physiotherapy approach that uses guided movement, resistance, touch and verbal or visual cues to help encourage more coordinated and effective movement.

Rather than working with individual muscles in isolation, PNF often uses diagonal and functional movement patterns involving several parts of the body at the same time.

In paediatric physiotherapy, these principles can be adapted to the child’s age and abilities and incorporated into activities such as rolling, reaching, transitions, sitting, standing and walking.

We use PNF techniques where appropriate as part of an individualised treatment programme.

MYOFASCIAL TECHNIQUES

Muscles and the connective tissue surrounding them can sometimes become tight or restricted, which may affect comfort, posture and freedom of movement.

Myofascial techniques use gentle hands-on treatment to work with these soft tissues. Depending on the child, this may include sustained pressure, stretching and soft-tissue mobilisation.

These techniques can be used alongside active physiotherapy to prepare the body for movement, improve comfort and make it easier for the child to participate in exercises and functional activities.

As with all of our manual techniques, treatment is adapted to the individual child and their tolerance.

CRANIAL WORK

Cranial work involves gentle hands-on techniques around the head, neck and surrounding tissues.

We may incorporate these techniques when working with babies who present with a strong preference for looking to one side, neck tightness, postural asymmetry or positional changes in head shape.

Rather than being used in isolation, cranial work forms part of a wider physiotherapy approach. This may also include assessment of neck movement, positioning, tummy time, developmental activities, stretching and advice for parents.

The aim is to encourage comfort, freer movement and more symmetrical development.

KINESIO TAPING

Kinesio Taping uses a soft, flexible elastic tape that is applied to the skin while still allowing the child to move freely.

Depending on how it is applied, taping can provide additional sensory feedback and may be used to support posture, joint alignment or activation of particular muscles during movement.

In paediatric physiotherapy, we may use Kinesio Tape alongside exercises and functional activities to help reinforce what we are working on during therapy.

The application is selected individually according to the child’s needs and therapy goals and is used as an additional treatment tool rather than a replacement for active therapy.

Taping and other soft-tissue techniques are also used within paediatric physiotherapy services.

VIBRATION TRAINING – GALILEO AND HYPERVIBE

Whole-body vibration training can provide the muscles and nervous system with repeated movement stimulation while the child is standing, sitting or exercising on a vibration platform.

The Galileo platform uses a side-alternating movement which produces a gentle rocking action through the legs and pelvis, similar to the alternating pattern that occurs during walking.

Depending on the child’s abilities and therapy goals, vibration training can be incorporated into exercises designed to challenge muscle activation, postural control, balance and functional movement.

At Alex’s Place we use Galileo and Hypervibe platforms, with the programme individually selected and supervised by the therapist.