What Is Spider Cage Therapy?
A powerful therapeutic tool that we use in pediatrics when required. It gives external, body weight support via a dynamic bungee system which can be tailored by the therapist to benefit each child.
Spider cage therapy helps children progress by supporting them to increase strength, balance, motor control, endurance and sensory processing, all while having a lot of fun. Having fun is really important when it comes to children- if they’re having fun, then they’re LEARNING!
Spider cage therapy is used for children with
- Poor balance
- Poor range of motion
- Gait Dysfunction
- Postural abnormalities
- Parkinson’s disease
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Inflammatory Polyneuropathies
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental Delays
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Post Stroke (CVA)
- Ataxia
- Athetosis
- Spasticity
- Hypotonia
How Does it Work?
If a child requires Spider Cage use, their therapist will start by selecting a harness that fits appropriately. There is also a second, chest harness that is used for children who need additional care throughout the trunk. As soon as the harness is selected, the therapist will strap the harness around the child’s waist (actually around their chest) securely and comfortably. From there, the bungies are
Gokulam therapist’s role
- Support the child to independently move without a carer’s hands supporting them.
- Offer partial weight bearing support required for the child to balance alone.
- Offer assistance while practicing functional skills in different developmental positions, such as kneeling, sitting and standing.
- Provide support while practicing transitions, such as moving between kneeling and standing, sitting and standing, and from half kneeling to standing.
- Have an extra pair of hands for the therapist to facilitate challenging movements and positions thus allowing the child to develop confidence and independence.
- Stimulate the vestibular system.
Advantages of Spider cage therapy
-
Strengthen muscles to prevent muscle atrophy and support movement like,
- Standing
- Sitting
- Balancing when changing positions
- Jumping
- Walking
- Posture alteration
- Expand joint range of motion
- Improve balance and coordination
- Improve flexibility and lengthen muscles to reduce spasticity
- Help developmental milestones like independent standing and walking
- Will help your child get more confident
- Encourage your child to experiment with their movements
- Will help your child to be more independent as they won’t have to rely on another person to help