Bobath therapy is a concept of treatment pioneered by Dr and Mrs Bobath. It is a transdisciplinary approach to the care of children with cerebral palsy, involving physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. The basis of the approach is to use specialised handling techniques which enable children to participate in daily activities whilst using normal movement.

Children are referred to our centre by their Consultant Paediatrician. Bobath therapy is complementary to services offered in the community. The service we provide is highly specialised. It involves intense therapy sessions over a short period of time, which we call 'therapy blocks'.

The Bobath concept of teamwork does not end with the therapists; at the outset, parents, carers and the child are consulted to help decide on the specific goals for the child during the therapy block.

A child with cerebral palsy can be caught in a cycle in which they find it difficult to have full control of their muscles, and limited, disturbed or dysfunctional movement is 'natural' to them. As a result, unused muscles waste and tight muscles become tighter. This may result in the child experiencing disturbed sensations which are stressful and frustrating, causing them to tense up which, in turn, makes movement more difficult. Bobath therapy seeks to break this cycle and encourage more normal patterns of movement. Bobath trained therapists use the term 'postural tone' to describe how stiff or floppy the muscles are. Normal postural tone allows the body to be still or move in a controlled way, but cerebral palsy disrupts this, so the muscles do not move in a functional way. With specific handling the muscles can be educated into more useful patterns of movement, patterns that the child may never have experienced before.

Through Bobath therapy a child can learn how to move more functionally, become more co-ordinated and overcome postural problems. This enables both the child and the family to experience a better quality of life.