THE BENEFITS
There are many compelling reasons why children and people with special needs require movement therapies as part of their daily lives from reduced obesity, increase bone density and muscle strength, gross motor coordination, flexibility and many more.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
WHY
Obesity rates for children with disabilities are 38% higher than children without disabilities
As a group, children with autism tend to move relatively little, a lot of their time is spent doing their autism therapies sitting at tables and focusing on skills not involving physical play.
People with autism tend to shy away from recreational sports. These reluctances may be from poor motor skills such as kicking a ball but also the social anxieties and sensory sensitivities could trigger this.
There is more research why movement therapies may be a critical component of autism therapy. https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/exercise-gives-children-autism-jump-social-skills/
HOW
The Funside takes all of these motives into an ASD movement program. We have worked with a spectrum of high and low functioning children and from all ages ranging 4-35years of age.
Communication barriers are resolved through preparation, PECS, visual cues, imitation, simple language and other visual commutation for pain, exertion, emotions and feelings.
Autism Spectrum disorders require a lot of adaptions varying from person to person and after establishing a connection with the individual we can help build the right relationships, social and sensory environment and movement program so they return.
Sensory areas and concepts are used to up and down regulate sensitivities. The whole body vibration has been astounding in producing these results and bringing a sense of calm at the end of each session along with massage and other equipment to move with, sandpits, balls, music, weight vests are just some.
Cerebral Palsy and Acquired Brain Injuries
These physical disabilities predominantly affect mobility and posture. There are different muscle characteristics of high and low tone for every person affected. People with cerebral palsy of all ages and all GMFCS levels can enhance their health and wellbeing as well as complement their neurological rehabilitation by increasing their fitness levels and reducing sedentary behaviours through a movement program with us.
Movement helps to reduce the spasticity over the overcompensating muscles and fascia. We use strength and mobility exercises in all three dimensions, creating more destabilization to increase balance and reduce spasticity. Doing these movements on or in conjunction with the Power Plate vibration machine accelerates results as it causes an enormous amount of muscle contractions for each movement achieved.
The Power Plate whole body vibration therapy is very efficient post botox treatment. As botox results reduce after each session as the vibration therapy extends results and helps build the muscles so they return to position more controlled. It also helps to re intergrate neonatal reflexes.
Massage techniques improve circulation in spastic muscles and help bring balance, reduce stress and pain and increase gross motor control as well as benefiting health of the other organs in the body.
Cystic Fibrosis
For people with CF the goal is to increase life expectancy.
Exercise and movement has proven repeatedly over time to help with many aspects of a healthier body and life.
CPT, Chest physical therapy is one of the main physical treatments conducted by therapists and parents for draining the mucus within the lungs. CPT can be done comfortably and carefully on the power plate machine to accelerate results. This medical device can provide vibration frequencies of 30-50hz, a lot more than hands or smaller hand held vibration tools.
Insufficient research has been done incorporating vibration platforms with cystic fibrosis and specifically physical therapy but one study indicated an improvement in neuromuscular and intramuscular co-ordination after using the vibration platform.
Furthermore at the Funside, we focus on a fun and playful environment to carry out movement therapies, this is especially warming for children who know they have a terminal illness and can be faced with other mental health issues
Our services are not limited to helping people with only these special needs mentioned above. A lot of disabilities require the same physical goals and we are very adaptive in our approach, so feel free to contact us for any information you may require regarding your child or client.
