Eddison

Alison and Liam started therapy with Eddison from a young age, they both have medical and exercise backgrounds (Liam was a strength and conditioning coach and Ali is a Physiotherapist) so understood the importance of early intervention. Using personal research and help from a close family friend who was a pediatric physio that had already completed some modified CIMT when we met.  

His early intervention meant that when we met at age 2, Eddison could already gasp and release and was aware that he had a right hand, although he didn't use this much in everyday play without prompts. His parents wanted to improve his fine motor skills, in particular getting him to use a pincer grasp and also to use his hand more in bimanual function. 

His first intensive focused mainly on CIMT, improving the strength and control of the skills he already had as well as gaining the pincer grasp he needed to progress his fine motor skills. We also started his journey into using two hands more automatically in play.

Using two hands was difficult for Eddison as he has a symptom of hemiplegia called Mirroring - where the hemiplegic hand copies the dominant hand. Making controlling independent/opposite movement for bimanual function need more concentration and feel almost impossible despite having the movement available during CIMT.

Eddison and his family took what they learnt and felt confident to continue sessions at home - often sending me video updates where we tweaked ideas to make the most of the activities he enjoyed at the time. 

They have returned yearly for top up programs where we have progress to focussing more and more on to challenging using the skills he has in his hemiplegic hand during bimanual function. 

His sessions always focus on what he loves and over the years have moved from playing shops, making food out of playdoh, rescuing heroes locked up by villains, to strength training for gladiators and learning how best to play his favourite sports of basketball and cricket. He has also managed self care skills of opening packets, peeling fruit and dressing including putting on his socks. 

He currently plays Rugby with Leeds Rhinos PDRL, Cricket with his peers and regularly does charity swimming events. We can't wait to see what this boy goes on to achieve.