The Timmermans Method - Intensive Therapy in Adelaide
We offer a full range of intensive therapy and rehabilitation services for children and adults in Adelaide.
This page contains a description of all the services we provide out of our Brighton clinic in Adelaide, as well as information about our approach and how we choose the most appropriate services for your child.
The Timmermans Method
We use a three-step approach to therapy and rehabilitation, holistic assessment and planning.
Holistic Assessment & Planning
In-clinic Intensive Therapy
On-going Support & Therapy
During Intensive Therapy sessions, family members are taught how to participate as therapy assistants. As a result, they are able to deliver a high-quality home programme. While the children will make progress during the intensive, the home programme will sustain and frequently improve on those outcomes. Children who achieve the highest long-term gains also participate in the most effective home programmes.
CME Therapy (Cuevas Medek Exercises)
CME is a dynamic and challenging set of exercises. The techniques can be used on children as young as three months to 12 years. The therapist creates a situation where children must respond to gravity to hold their head, trunk, and limbs against the forces of gravity.
Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME) is a powerful method of eliciting improvements in posture, balance, and motor control, for children with cerebral palsy and developmental conditions.
Therasuit Therapy
The Therasuit intensive therapy method is an individualized therapy program that accelerates functional progress. The program uses the Therasuit, a soft, dynamic orthotic suit with bungee-like cords. This helps children learn new correct patterns of movement through strengthening and functional skills practice.
The suit’s primary goal is to improve and change the pressure from the joints, muscles, ligaments, reduce pathological reflexes, restore physiological muscle synergy, and load the entire body with weight.
PIASTM - Soft Tissue Mobilisation
Paediatric Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, or
PIASTM, is used to help children with Cerebral Palsy, and other muscle conditions gain improved range of motion, flexibility, and muscle activation.
It is used as the first stage of body relaxation during intensive therapy sessions.
It is practised by Paediatric Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Exercise Physiologists.
Hydrotherapy
Swimming and just being in water helps increase oxygen to the muscles and promotes recovery.
Hydrotherapy, when used correctly, is a fantastic tool.
It can teach children about their body through increasing proprioception, help them relax the stiffness in their body, as well as improve mobility and fitness.
Our therapists have all been trained in specialised special needs hydrotherapy techniques, including the Halliwick Method, the Claire Timmermans Method, and Watsu Water Therapy.
Power Plate / Vibration Therapy
Power Plate is a vibrating platform that helps children with Cerebral Palsy attain balance, core stability, and improve muscle spasticity.
This machine helps relax their muscles by mobilising fascial connective tissue, stimulating natural reflexes, and increasing muscle activation.
During rehabilitation, children are asked to perform movements and strengthening activities.
The effectiveness will be enhanced by performing those same movements on a Power Plate.
COGY Wheelchair
What if the wheelchair became an opportunity to help people move their legs again?
This is how the pedalling wheelchair “COGY” came to life.
For many patients, a life with a wheelchair means a life of giving up on the possibility of ever walking again.
The COGY helps improve leg function, strength, and fitness while allowing increased mobility.
Creepster Crawler
The Creepster crawler is a device similar to a walker, but it helps children crawl.
Initially invented in the USA, our clinic is the official supplier of Creepster Crawlers into Australia and New Zealand.
It also helps parents and therapists to teach their children to crawl without compromising their backs ergonomically.
Stepping Box and Parallel Bars
Using the stepping box and parallel bars together is the primary tool we use to help children increase their gait and stepping ability.
Parallel bars are two bars that are height and width adjustable for the child. The bars may be raised or lowered to suit kids of various heights and abilities.
Stepping boxes, challenge the child’s gait, range of motion, trunk, body awareness, and makes them work harder than normal walking. This can increase muscular strength and help to improve balance and stepping ability.
Meet our Adelaide Team
Bronwyn
Bronwyn is our newest Exercise Physiologist and has fit right into our family straight away.
Bronwyn has been an EP for 3.5 years and studied a Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Science at University of Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Bronwyn’s favourite colour is pink. Her favourite food is Sushi and her favourite movie is Frozen.
Jo
Jo is our amazing finance manager and client support liaison. She handles all administration and scheduling for The Timmermans Method as well as being a supportive and understanding ear for all parents.
As a former executive assistant and project administrator in emergency services, and former chair of school council, Jo is experienced in running an organisation.