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Group exercise fun for children with disabilities
An innovative sports health partnership, piloted to offer children with disabilities the chance to exercise together and socialise, has been so successful there are calls for further exercise classes to be established.
The partnership, between the children’s community physiotherapy team from Suffolk Community Healthcare, Abbeycroft Leisure and Ipswich Borough Council, was developed to bring together the knowledge and expertise of local physiotherapists with the enthusiasm and skill of sports centre staff.
Instead of children having to do their exercises on their own in a clinical setting, they have been able to use gym facilities alongside their peers, guided by both physiotherapists and gym staff collaboratively.
The piloted sessions were based around strengthening exercises in the gym for children living with developmental conditions such as cerebral palsy, or for those recovering from effects of brain surgery. Exercise and physical therapy is such an important aspect of the rehabilitation of these children with the goal being to maximise control of the body; build strength and improve balance; increase flexibility and, ultimately, independence.
Following four six-week sessions, which took place in both Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, feedback from children and their families was really positive with many children wanting to receive their therapy in this way all the time.
Sophie Hatcher, aged 9, who attended two six week sessions at Gainsborough Sports Centre, said: “I improved by ten seconds in the chair exercise and love coming to the group.” Her mother, Claire, agreed: “Sophie’s sister has access to loads of after school clubs, but because of Sophie’s condition there’s not as much out there for her to get involved with. She sees her physio sessions as a fun activity where she makes friends, and I get to meet other parents to share advice and talk about our children. It’s been amazing, and we would love it to continue.”
Chris Hawley, team lead for children’s physiotherapy at Suffolk Community Healthcare, said: “The children have been so motivated by exercising with their peers in leisure facilities rather than medical clinics; it has taken away their fear of exercising in regular gyms and encouraged many of them to access the facilities long term.
“It’s sometimes hard to maintain children’s motivation to do their exercises, especially when disabled children have to do specialist exercise and physio throughout their lives, so these fun, safe and accessible groups have been a great way of keeping them engaged. The groups have been such a success that we hope to secure funding to enable us to offer them on a permanent basis in the future.”
Ipswich Borough Council Deputy leader Bryony Rudkin said: "This project has allowed us to work with Suffolk Community Healthcare to break down those barriers that sometimes exist and prevent children from being physically active. This pilot has shown that quality partnerships between sports and leisure centres, clinical staff and physiotherapists can work and is a model for the future. Sport and physical activity should be for everyone and the only way we can become the most active county in England is by ensuring closer ties are made between sport and physical activity providers and the health sector."
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