Cerebral Palsy Scotland

Being able to stand is so important to me

Marion talks about how she’s enjoying being able to stand in a standing frame once again.

At the start of 2020, way before the coronavirus hit us, I was told I was going to be moving into supportive accommodation.  Unfortunately, due to the support organisation’s rules I will need to use a hoist instead of a stand aid for all my transfers. For me, this was very difficult to get my head around after years of being able to stand, and always been dead anti hoist…   it was a bad word in my head, lol !

Also after years of my Bobath therapy and the therapists’ recommendations to promote weight-bearing I knew I needed to find myself a standing frame to assist me to remain able to stand, even though I will need to use a hoist.

So, I was straight on to Filip, my therapist at Cerebral Palsy Scotland, to ask him if he knew where I could get a suitable standing frame. He suggested a company down in England I could try, however he said there were one in the centre that I could borrow, and did I want to try it out? I jumped at the chance.

I had tried it out the week before lock-down at the centre and got on really well with it. I loved the feeling of being able to stand up straight.

Despite the centre closure, a few weeks ago, we were able to arrange with Filip for my brother to pick it up from the centre. It is now in our front room.

I have been loving using it on a regular basis, it’s so good for my back and legs. It is good for me to know that I can use it no bother, I have the strength in my legs to be able to stand. I can open up my back so that is very important to me. At the moment I’m building my time up,   I’m hoping that I can be in the frame for half an hour.

When I eventually move out into my new house, I hope I can use it regularly and then I will have no worries about losing my standing ability.

Handling tips for new babies with cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy Scotland has produced a short video with therapy tips for handling new babies with cerebral palsy.

Are you at home with a new baby? You might not have a formal diagnosis of cerebral palsy. You might be worried about their motor development. If so, our Senior Bobath Physiotherapist Philip Vervaeke has put together a video from his home demonstrating ways to handle your baby, tips on how to involve new positions and passing to other people and how to use household props to keep you and your baby comfortable.


 

Contact us to arrange a virtual consultation

Please remember you can get in touch to arrange a virtual appointment with a Bobath therapist. We are currently able to offer adults or children a limited number of “lockdown virtual sessions” at no cost. If you have access to the internet and a smartphone, you should be able to take part. Contact us for more information and to make your appointment.

For advice or support on any aspect of your or your child’s cerebral palsy (CP), just contact us by phone or email. We’re happy to help with advice about managing your condition, keeping moving, the support you receive or navigating all the recent guidelines.

Keep moving! Therapy tips video

Cerebral Palsy Scotland has produced a short video with therapy tips and suggestions on ways to keep moving during lockdown.

The video was created by Filip Vervaeke, one of our Bobath therapists. Filip is a physiotherapist who has worked for the charity since 2002, and who has a wealth of experience working with both children and adults with cerebral palsy.

The video covers movements you can try in sitting and in supported standing. Filip hopes to encourage all members of the family to get moving, and use the video together.

 

Contact us to arrange a virtual consultation

Please remember you can get in touch to arrange a virtual appointment with a Bobath therapist. We are currently able to offer adults or children a limited number of “lockdown virtual sessions” at no cost. If you have access to the internet and a smartphone, you should be able to take part. Contact us for more information and to make your appointment.

For advice or support on any aspect of your or your child’s cerebral palsy (CP), just contact us by phone or email. We’re happy to help with advice about managing your condition, keeping moving, the support you receive or navigating all the recent guidelines.