Childrens Physiotherapy

Healing Touch Rehab

Specialist paediatric and adult neurological physiotherapy and vestibular rehabilitation service offering assessment, management and treatment of children, teenagers and adults who present with physical problems as a result of a neurological condition. Our children’s neurological physiotherapists in Leeds can treat a wide range of clients ranging from acquired brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, nerve injuries, multiple trauma, stroke and cerebral palsy.

We can arrange a detailed initial assessment, discuss your needs, advice on specialist equipment you may need and formulate specific therapy programme to help you achieve your goals. If you like to discuss anything in detail, we are here to help you.

Paediatric Service

Therapy for children is completely different to that for adults. Children, in their developing stage, grow constantly and there are significant changes in their musculoskeletal system throughout their growth spurt. Therefore treatment for these growing bodies requires specialist knowledge and experience.

At Healing Touch Rehab, our paediatric specialists are trained and skilled at working with children with complex needs in a very friendly environment, keeping them motivated and making the sessions fun. We ensure our neuro physiotherapy sessions are interesting and something children look forward to. Our clients include children and young adults with varied functional levels Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) 1-5.

Neuro Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based therapy programme that is designed to reduce the symptoms of disequilibrium by promoting central nervous system compensation in associated vestibular pathology. Vestibular rehabilitation is an alternative treatment involving specific exercises that can eliminate or significantly reduce symptoms by promoting central nervous system compensation for inner ear deficits. The training allows the brain to regain balance, control and minimise dizziness.

This is a specialist area of rehabilitation that requires specialist knowledge, training and expertise. When choosing your rehabilitation specialist, it is important you make sure that your physiotherapist has specialist knowledge, understanding and relevant training to treat neurological and vestibular conditions.

Healing Touch Rehab has a specialist service offering vestibular assessment and rehabilitation. Our paediatric specialists will complete an assessment, set out specific goals that are realistic and achievable and formulate a rehabilitation plan that would help you achieve your goals. Our goal is to restore your movement, train and help you with normal movement patterns, develop your confidence, help you achieve and promote independence.

Neurological Physiotherapy Service for Teenagers and Young Adults

We believe that ongoing rehabilitation is essential through the transitional phase as a child grows to an adult. Our evidence-based, hands-on treatment and management plan for individuals with special needs are designed to offer continuity, promote progress and help young adults to be as independent and successful as they aspire to be within the confines of their disability. We offer tailored training and support to care staff, advice to college and educational staff on manual handling, positioning, usage of equipment, tailored training for the staff for a home-based programme, advice on care plans, assess and devise a treatment for hydrotherapy and rebound therapy. No matter the scale of your child’s needs, our neurological therapy team in Leeds and Manchester are sure to provide you with the bespoke solution you require.

Expert Witness

We are a specialist physiotherapy clinic in Leeds offering expert witness and clinical evidence corroborating case related facts using our clinical experience and expertise. We can prepare reports and evidence for the process of court proceedings. Kay Ganguly, Specialist Physiotherapist is trained by Cardiff University Law School and has been awarded Bond Solon Civil Expert Certificate. Kay is involved in assessment and reporting on children with complex neurological conditions like brain injury, spinal cord injury, poly trauma, birth injuries like birth asphyxia, brachial plexus injury and complex orthopaedic conditions. Kay is instructed by claimants, defendants and as a single joint expert.

Conditions and Treatment

Healing Touch Rehab is an integrated neurological physiotherapy service offering treatment and advice to meet the needs of individuals with physical and sensory processing difficulties. We specialise in treating neurological conditions in children and young adults with acquired injuries, genetic conditions and birth injuries. These include conditions involving both central and peripheral nervous systems. Some commonly treated conditions are.

Neurological Conditions

  • Acquired brain injury
  • Birth injuries
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Childhood disabilities
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Developmental coordination disorders Long term strokes
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neuromuscular disorder
  • Pre and post SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) rehabilitation.
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Peripheral neuropathies
  • Recent strokes less than 6 months
  • Rehabilitation post brain and spinal cord tumor surgeries.
  • Genetic disorders
  • Vestibular disorders- dizziness, headache and balance problems
  • Other long term neurological conditions

Orthopaedic Conditions

• Traumatic fracture and dislocation
• Polytrauma and long term management
• Orthopaedic spinal injuries
• Musculoskeletal conditions in children and young adults
• Pre and post amputation rehabilitation

Key Interventions 

  • Hands on therapy
  • Joint and soft tissue mobilisation.
    Strengthening
  • Bobath therapy
  • Neurodevelopmental therapy and sensory integration
  • Vestibular habituation, balance training and neuro rehabilitation
  • Movement analysis and gait training
  • Postural analysis and functional training
  • Biomechanical assessment and advice on specialist orthotic intervention
  • Facilitation of normal movement pattern with the use of assistive devices and equipment

Neurological Conditions

  • Acquired brain injury
  • Birth injuries
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Childhood disabilities
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Developmental coordination disorders Long term strokes
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neuromuscular disorder
  • Pre and post SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) rehabilitation.
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Peripheral neuropathies
  • Recent strokes less than 6 months
  • Rehabilitation post brain and spinal cord tumor surgeries.
  • Genetic disorders
  • Vestibular disorders- dizziness, headache and balance problems
  • Other long term neurological conditions

Orthopaedic Conditions

• Traumatic fracture and dislocation
• Polytrauma and long term management
• Orthopaedic spinal injuries
• Musculoskeletal conditions in children and young adults
• Pre and post amputation rehabilitation

Key Interventions 

  • Hands on therapy
  • Joint and soft tissue mobilisation.
    Strengthening
  • Bobath therapy
  • Neurodevelopmental therapy and sensory integration
  • Vestibular habituation, balance training and neuro rehabilitation
  • Movement analysis and gait training
  • Postural analysis and functional training
  • Biomechanical assessment and advice on specialist orthotic intervention
  • Facilitation of normal movement pattern with the use of assistive devices and equipment

Testimonials

Tyler's Journey

We met Tyler when he was only 9 years old. Tyler has a history of severe traumatic brain injury and is a wheelchair user. Tyler lost his ability to sit, stand and function, he also suffered cortical visual impairment as a result. Tyler also developed scoliosis at the age of 13 years, which has been managed with an intensive postural care regime and activity-specific therapeutic approach.

Tyler has made significant progress and is now working towards independent transfers with a transfer aid with the aim of minimising the frequency and need for hoisting. Besides having therapeutic benefit, independent transfers has enabled develop his strength and stability; as well as promoted upper limb function.

Tyler’s journey is truly fulfilling and inspirational and it is a pleasure to have witnessed his progress for the past many years. His determination to learn and gain the ability to sit, assisted stand and all other personal attributes make him who he is today

Nathan's Journey

Nathan had a severe traumatic brain injury when he was only 6. He lost his functional abilities, motor and cognitive function.

We set 3 goals for him to achieve: Pain relief, quickest functional recovery and confidence build up.

The secret to any successful rehab is being present in the journey. Having those positive affirmations about your own self and your values are critical in visualizing yourself self being powerful. This is a core value of our treatment plan and the journey that we take our clients through.

The holistic approach is not just for physical recovery. We aim to empower clients with emotional support/ empowerment, self-belief and a shift in mindset. Acceptance of their own self, argue their own limitations and see the reality from a different perspective.

Nathan’s journey has been transformative, today Nathan can ride a bike, he has been selected for Team A rugby squad and swimming squad. He goes for long bike rides and runs. He enjoys adventure sports like water rafting and rock climbing, all the necessary things he needs to do to have a fulfilling life.

Isaac's Journey

Isaac is a charming and inspirational young man with cerebral palsy. A multidisciplinary therapeutic intervention has been an integral part of his journey.

In 2019 Isaac underwent SDR surgery, spinal dorsal rhizotomy. This is an operation that reduces spasticity in children with CP.

Isaac received intensive physiotherapy from statutory services alongside targeted independent provision to maximise the outcome of the surgery. We were then able to follow his orthopaedic post-operative guidance and work alongside the NHS team to enable him to reach his target rehabilitation goals. We ensured working to his target potential whilst offering different adjutants, including hydrotherapy as well as land therapy and intervention within the educational set and at his home.

Isaac has made phenomenal progress with ongoing rehab. His determination and engagement with therapy have largely contributed to the progress he has made so far. With specific and targeted rehab, he has made meaningful physical and functional gains as well as improvement in his overall motor function.

Book a treatment home, school or community visit

To make clients feel as comfortable as possible, we offer home visits or arrange treatment at one of our community clinics at William Merritt Centre, Leeds, or a similar centre or location of your choice in your local community across the North West and Yorkshire, or we could arrange to see you at a suitable space within your community.

We appreciate our clients may have mobility restrictions and will always consider how to make consultations and treatments as convenient, time optimised and pain-free as possible. Community-based rehabilitation and integration back into the community is the key to any successful rehabilitation. Besides the benefit of a familiar environment and the discipline of following treatment plans within their own setting , community-based treatment enables the client to stay motivated while involving their family and friends.