Additional Services

Gait Training

Gait training is a form of Physiotherapy that focuses on improving a child’s walking ability. Gait training involves different types of interventions such as treadmill training to improve walking speed, endurance and motor function. Evidence suggests that functional gait training is safe, feasible, and an effective intervention to target improved walking patterns in children.

Gait/walking is evaluated in our clinic using detailed video analysis and musculoskeletal assessments. Our Physiotherapists have a special interest and are highly skilled in identifying and interpreting gait abnormalities as well as targeting and planning intervention for improved gait efficiency and function. Treatments target the neurological and musculoskeletal systems to improve mobility and can include recommendations for orthotics, footwear and/or shoe modifications to optimise gait. 

Orthotic Prescription

Physiotherapists utilise orthotics and footwear to assist with structural and functional aspects of the neuromuscular and skeletal systems. The prescription of orthotics requires a detailed movement analysis and lower limb assessment to identity any abnormalities requiring orthotic use. This may include: 

  • Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO’s) and footwear combinations 

  • Supra-Malleolar Orthotics (SMO’s)

  • ICB Medical orthotics (in-shoe) 

  • Internal modifications to current footwear 

Our Physiotherapists are trained in the OSKAR (Elaine Owen) principles of designing, aligning and tuning an AFO and footwear to optimise performance. We work closely with our local orthotist teams to manufacture custom made orthotics.   

Serial Casting

Our clinic has an established serial casting program that works collaboratively with your medical specialists. Jacqui and Dominic (our directors) have travelled to the United States to train and specialise in the management of paediatric foot and ankle deformities using serial casting.

What is Serial Casting

Serial casting is a non-invasive intervention that involves the application and removal of a well-padded plaster/fiberglass cast over a specific period of time. During this procedure, joints are gradually and repeatedly set in more physiologically correct alignment resulting in an increased range of motion. 

Serial casting is used to improve muscle length and function to manage conditions such as toe walking and cerebral palsy and optimise body mechanics for standing and/or walking.

Outcomes of serial casting include:

  • Reduce soft tissue contractures around affected joints,

  • Achieve optimum biomechanical alignment and improve balance,

  • Reduce chances of an orthopaedic deformity, and more invasive treatments like surgery,

  • Provide appropriate sensory experiences while standing and walking to promote correct weight distribution and therefore a more efficient gait pattern.

Therapy garments for children

Therapy Garments

Our Physiotherapists use therapeutic garments to complement Physiotherapy intervention, provide stability and increased body awareness, improve posture, balance, gait, and movement skills and overall motor performance during therapy sessions.

These garments are specialised therapy items and are not available for ‘off the shelf’ purchasing. Garments need to be prescribed by a skilled therapist who can recommend the most appropriate brand or item for your child, based on their abilities, diagnosis, postural needs and goals.

Garments we use in clinic and loan: 

Theratogs™

Our Physiotherapists have completed the Certified Theratogs fitter level I and level II courses.  Theratogs are lightweight comfortable and easily cleaned therapy garments for children. Theratogs are 'wearable therapy' orthotics that give your child ongoing therapeutic benefits each day!

For more information and evidence about TheraTogs, follow theratogs.com/evidence/research

Stabilizing Pressure Input Orthosis (SPIO)

‘SPIO assists clients with stability and proprioceptive deficits through deep pressure.  Since deep pressure appears to be an important somatic input for balance and movement control, SPIO® is designed to provide and enhance deep pressure sensory input around and toward the midline of the body to improve dynamic stability and postural activation.’

For more information and evidence about SPIO, follow https://www.spioworks.com/pages/articles

Spiral Skins

Spiral Skins is a Lycra compression garment with a series of overlaid elasticised straps in Lycra sleeves. The Lycra compression provides stability to the limb or body segment while the elasticised straps provide resistance in directional lines of pull to control the direction of movement.

For more information about Spiral Skins, follow https://www.spiralskins.com.au/#About

 

Other orthoses prescribed include:

Dynamic Movement Orthoses

Second Skins

Turtle braces

Benik

Aquatic Physiotherapy

(Hydrotherapy)

Water is a great environment that enables movement in children who have difficulty on land, and more importantly, it’s really FUN! Our Physiotherapists have expert aquatic training, and we see our clients achieve outcomes and milestones during aquatic sessions that help achieve their land-based goals.  

Allied Health Assistant

Our Allied Health Assistant can help by working with your child to practise the activities or skills that your physiotherapist has developed in your home, childcare centre or recreational setting eg. your local playground.  Allied Heath Assistants also assist with group programs and support our therapy indirectly by helping to create motivating and effective resources like visual aids. At our clinic, our Allied Health Assistant is also specifically trained in assisting with our serial casting and splinting programs.