If you’ve ever been inside the Therapy Stars clinic, you’ll know there’s plenty of specialist equipment around!
Some pieces may look familiar, while others might leave you wondering exactly what they’re for. Everything our therapists use has a purpose, but the equipment you’ll see in a session will depend entirely on the individual child and what they’re working towards.
That’s because specialist equipment is only really useful when it’s used in the right way, at the right time.
It Always Starts With the Child
At Therapy Stars, we don’t start by choosing a piece of equipment. We start by thinking about the child in front of us.
Our therapists will look at how your child currently moves and what they’re working towards, then consider how best to support them during their sessions. Specialist equipment can help create opportunities to practise a particular movement or give just the right amount of support while they work towards greater independence.
As your child’s abilities develop, we’ll adapt what we do with them too. Something that’s helpful at one stage of their physiotherapy journey might not be needed in quite the same way later on.
Creating More Opportunities for Movement
For some children, specialist equipment can make movements or positions more accessible and give them the opportunity to experience something they may otherwise find difficult.
It could provide additional support while they practise standing or stepping, for example. Other equipment might be introduced to help a child work on their balance or develop strength in a particular area.
The level of support can be adapted to the individual child, with our therapists encouraging them to be as actively involved in the movement as possible.
Keeping Therapy Engaging
Of course, not everything you’ll find around the Therapy Stars clinic looks particularly clinical!
Play is a big part of how we work, so you’ll often see favourite toys or games being used alongside our specialist physiotherapy equipment. If we can turn an activity into something a child genuinely wants to take part in, therapy can feel very different from simply being asked to repeat an exercise.
Sometimes the specialist equipment even becomes part of the game.
Finding What Works for Your Child
There isn’t a standard set of equipment that every child who visits Therapy Stars will use, because there isn’t a standard Therapy Stars session.
What works brilliantly for one child might not be right for another. Our therapists use their clinical knowledge to decide what could be most beneficial and will continue adapting sessions as your child’s needs change.
Having access to specialist equipment gives us more ways to support each child, but it’s the expertise behind how and when we use it that really matters.
And if you’ve ever wondered why your child’s physiotherapist has chosen something in particular, please ask. We’re always happy to explain what we’re working on and how it relates to your child’s individual goals.
Would you like to find out more about physiotherapy at Therapy Stars? Get in touch with our team to book an initial assessment or arrange a complimentary phone call to discuss your child’s needs.
