Intensive Physiotherapy Sessions
What are Intensive Physiotherapy Sessions?
Intensive therapy can accelerate progress, if a child is ready to learn a specific skill OR it can refine skills we have already developed. Intensive’s can also help your child practice these skills in ‘real life’ activities. Intensive Physiotherapy Sessions involve:
- Targeted sessions, focussing on a specific GOAL
- High dose and frequency – can be daily or spaced out depending on individual child’s needs. Can be 1 hour or longer, depending on individual needs
- Can be multi-disciplinary – talk to us about working with your speech therapist or occupational therapist also
- Evidence based – if investing time, money and energy into intensives make sure they include evidence based activities so they work in the short and long term for your child
We offer both Individual and Group Intensive therapy options
Who are Intensive Therapy Sessions for?
Intensive Physiotherapy sessions suit children with motor delays due to disability. There should be a specific GOAL or SKILL your child is working on, that they can then continue to practice in their everyday life. Whether your child is suited to Individual (1:1) Vs Group Intensive models, likely depends on the goal + what motivates them to participate.
Individual One to One (1:1) Intensive Therapy
What is Individual 1:1 Intensive Therapy?
Developmental Therapies intensive therapy blocks are delivered in the clinic, home or hydrotherapy pool and individually designed for your family and child. Sessions are usually at a high dose and frequency however we discuss your goals and what skill you want your child to achieve and plan from there. If we don’t get this right, the intensive won’t be as effective.
Who is a Individual 1:1 Intensive Therapy for?
1:1 individual therapy intensives are for children and families who have a clear goal or skill they want to achieve. The customised design of our intensives means we can support children with a variety of needs and levels of regulation – the same program is not for everyone.
What Does the Program Involve?
1. Individual Goal Setting – What is the goal or skill we are working on?
2. Individual Intensive Planning:
– Timing of the intensive – when is the right time?
– What frequency will best suit your child?
– How long should therapy sessions be for your child?
– Who should be involved – is it just Physio, or do we need to include your speech therapist or occupational therapist also?
– What types of evidence based practice or therapy should we include? Options include:
> Neurodevelopmental therapy read more
> Task specific practice with real life supports eg how / what do you use to do this at home?
> Practice with assistive technology or other supports like orthotics / body suits such as SPIOs, Second Skins etc
> Body weight supported treadmill training – we have this on site
> Hydrotherapy
– Where is best to practice this skill / deliver the intensive? If the goal relates to home – do we need to practice at home?
– What motivates your child and how do we make the practice FUN? We are pretty good at this but always open to ideas!
3. Delivery of Intensive Program
4. Practice of skills gained at home – we teach you how to continue to practice + implement activities into your day to day routines and support with home program follow up
Families, support workers and others supporting your child are always welcome – we want you involved!
Dose, Practice, and Assistive Technology
In these intensives, children attend for 1-2 weeks at the frequency determined with you. Repetition of activities builds the dosage. We wholeheartedly support the use of equipment or Assistive Technology (AT) in our group intensives.
Research indicates that if your child participates more independently with the support of equipment through practice of a participation-based, functional skill, there will be progression in their outcomes. This allows children to practice in real-life settings with structured support. There is no evidence to suggest that using AT makes our children reliant or not develop other motor skills – so practice with and without AT is the key!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Group and 1:1 intensives?
A: Group intensives offer the motivation from peers and focus on age-appropriate skills in real life settings, while 1:1 intensives allow for intense focus on specific, targeted gross motor abilities, often in the clinic.
Q: What is the same about Group and 1:1 Intensives?
A: Both should focus on goals or skills set by your child and family + involve the delivery of evidence based therapy models to achieve these.Both should involve your child leading the movement – rather than having therapy delivered to them – their brain will learn and use many more pathways if they are planning movement and making movement happen themselves! Both should be teaching you as parents how to continue practice of the therapy skills taught, at home, following the intensive.
Q: Is Assistive Technology used?
A: Yes, using equipment or AT is highly encouraged as it increases independence, fun, and the opportunity for practice with purpose, leading to higher outcomes. Evidence tells us that using AT to ‘learn to move’ not only contributes to motor outcomes but also promotes earlier engagement in play and cognition – all children learn by moving in their environment – so it doesn’t really matter how we move, but the earlier and more often the better! AT helps achieve this. There is no evidence to suggest that using AT makes our children reliant or not develop other motor skills – so practice with and without AT is the key!
How to enrol for a 1:1 Intensive Therapy Block
- Call us on 0422 229 971 or fill in the enquiry form below.
- Our team will arrange an initial clinic meeting to ensure the program is right for your child and design your child’s individual intensive program – based on your goals – we should know you and your child before the intensive starts to deliver this most effectively
- We’ll book your therapy intensive – with us + your multidisciplinary team as required
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Our Location
Suite 1/66 Jessica Boulevard
MINYAMA QLD 4575
(In shared rooms with Orthotic Solutions)
Open Hours
Monday 9am – 5pm
Tuesday 9am – 5pm
Wednesday 8am – 5pm
Thursday 8am – 5pm
Friday 8am – 12noon