At CPotential, we offer a variety of therapy packages focusing on hand skills for children with motor disorders – Upper Limb Therapy, CIMT and Bimanual Skills Training. Functional hand skills work forms part of all of our therapy sessions.
Working as an integrated team and drawing on technology as part of our rehabilitation packages, we can bring a huge wealth and range of skills to engage and develop hand skills.
We will work with you to find the right intervention and combined therapy package that works for you and your child. This could include 1,2 or 3-week intensives where we see you several times a week in the Centre, through to once-a-week sessions with a tailored home programme with clear goals and expectations. In the school holidays, there is also the option of group therapy.
Benefits of Upper Limb Therapy, CIMT and Bimanual Skills Training
- Increase and maximise bimanual skills (using two hands together) – needed for day-to-day activities like feeding, dressing, writing, and play
- Strengthen neural connections and increase activity in the part of the brain responsible for the movement of the affected body part
- Increase the use of the more affected hand targeting movements such as developing grasp and release
- Skills and movements learned in therapy are transferred to everyday life at home and school.
CIMT (Constraint Induced Movement Therapy)
CIMT is an evidence-based intervention for children with unilateral cerebral palsy (difficulty using one hand/arm) experiencing for example hemiplegia or dystonia. CIMT increases the use of the more affected hand targeting movements such as developing grasp and release. CIMT involves wearing a cast or mitt to reduce movement in the dominant hand; allowing the person to then notice and use the affected hand in therapy. Based on the principles of neuroplasticity including lots of practice and repetition of fun play-based targeted activities, new skills and targeted movements can emerge.
CIMT encourages your child to use their affected hand through specific play and task-related activities combined with wearing the mitt or cast on your child’s preferred hand – which can be worn for a short period of time daily or for a number of weeks.
CIMT at CPotential is often seen as complementary to Bimanual Skills Training.
Bimanual Skills Training
We are bimanual beings! Once the targeted movements are established in CIMT we work with you to support your child to learn how to use them when your child starts to use two hands together.
Bimanual skills training supports children to develop hand skills for day-to-day activities such as feeding and play. Bimanual skills involve a high level of practice and thinking (cognition) to understand and use two hands together. This can feel demanding and at times frustrating so we work with you and your child to develop specific goals with the right level of challenge combined with task-orientated and fun play-based work.
We understand that developing hand skills is complex so thinking together with you we also work on some of the building blocks for hand skills e.g., supporting your child’s focus, attention, body awareness, postural control, and sensory processing skills. Our overall aim is to support your child to be able to use their hands to do things that they want and need to do.
How much is Upper Limb Therapy/CIMT/Bimanual Skills Training?
There is a fee of £45 for an initial assessment to access all CPotential services.
How do I book?
Please complete our form below and we’ll be in touch soon to arrange an initial assessment.
