Therapists trial new technique to support children with paralysis

Children’s occupational therapists in the Rochdale borough have trialled a new technique to help children with muscle weakness in one arm build up their strength.

The therapists, who are part of the Children’s Acute and Ongoing Needs Service from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, have introduced Constraint Induced Movement Therapy.

This is where a child is given a mitten to wear on their stronger hand to encourage the use of the weaker arm and hand in everyday tasks such as brushing their teeth, feeding themselves and opening things.

This approach is coupled with intensive exercises to further improve the use of the weaker arm.

The therapy is used with children who have experienced a brain injury which affects one side of their body and learned to do tasks by not using their weaker arm.

Staff worked with children with hemiplegia, a condition which affects the ability of the brain to control movement on one side of the body.

Occupational therapist Katie Darrington led the new technique. She said: “We know that many children with hemiplegia are capable of using their weakened limb to some extent, but they’ve learned to do everyday tasks without it.

“By restricting their other arm we can help build strength and range of movement in the weaker limb and the results we’ve had so far have been really impressive.”

The Children’s Acute and Ongoing Needs Service provides dedicated therapy and nursing/medical care to children and young people with severe and complex disabilities or health needs and special educational needs, who require a high level of support.

The service also provides care and treatment for children and young people with acute (i.e. short-term) or long-term ongoing health needs (e.g. diabetes or epilepsy).