SDR Strength

It’s Carer’s Week so we wanted to do a post to celebrate and recognise the incredible contribution of carers across the UK.❤️

It’s estimated there are 11.9 million people in the UK that are currently providing unpaid care. That’s more than 1 in 5 people supporting a loved one, friend or family member.

For many families affected by Cerebral Palsy, caring isn’t something that starts and stops it’s woven into everyday life. The appointments, the therapies, the advocacy and the encouragement.

We thought the quote below summed it up so well, some more quotes we’ve attached in the pictures too.

“Being a parent carer means celebrating victories that others may overlook, and never giving up on possibilities.”

If you need help or support with caring we have posted a link to Carers Week web page which outlines all the organisations that may be able to help in the comments of this post.

A lot of people don’t know this…

Did you know that getting your child to pick up bean bags from the floor with their feet and place in a basket/ bowl is a great form of hidden therapy?

Why it works….
They’ll need to use their foot to grasp the bean bag and lift it into a basket, in doing so they are practising a range of important skills, including:

🦶Foot and toe strength
🦶Ankle mobility and control
🦶Coordination and motor planning
🦶Balance and postural control when standing on one leg
🦶Core strength and stability
🦶Body awareness (proprioception)

This activity also helps strengthen the small muscles within the feet that support the arches and contribute to overall foot stability. Stronger feet provide a solid foundation for balance, walking and more complex movement skills.

By encouraging the feet and toes to work harder, children are also activating muscles further up the leg, helping to support lower limb function, coordination and control.

For an extra challenge, try placing the basket in different positions so your child has to turn, reach or balance for longer.

To make it easier use a pair of socks that are larger and easier to pick up and get them to do seated.

Let us know how you get on in the comments. 👣

We were delighted to be asked by Scope to review information on their website relating to SDR surgery.

It was an absolute pleasure to work with such a fantastic charity that does so much to support disabled people and their families across the UK.

We’re passionate about helping families access clear, accurate information.

We’ll pop the link to the page in the comments if you’d like to have a read.

An inspirational story from a young girl called Lexi who sadly passed away at the end of last year.

Lexi had spent prolonged periods in hospital suffering with a rare auto immune deficiency, whilst in hospital she wrote a letter with tips and advice on how she would like to be treated.

Lexi's letter is now being used to train future doctors and nurses around the world.

We really hope Lexi's letter will give an insight to doctors, nurses and other hospital caregivers to better understand their younger patients.

We've added the link to video in the comments.

We would never have thought 10 years ago we'd be here...

Hello we are Kyle and Becky, husband and wife, parents to two amazing little boys and also the proud owners of SDR Strength a rehabilitation and exercise therapy training service, supporting children and adults with Cerebral Palsy (pre and post-SDR) as well as treating other immobilising conditions.

The business began in November 2015 and we’ve gradually expanded over the years and we are now based in our own private therapy centre in Basingstoke.

My passion lies in helping people achieve and realise their potential. I use my skills and expertise to challenge, motivate, encourage and facilitate body transformations. Helping people living with immobilising conditions smash their glass ceilings and surpass all expectations, is very rewarding and my life's calling. Becky manages the operational side of the business, makes sure clients are booked in, manages my diary and is there to answer client questions and queries and she is such an important part of our business.

We’re blown away with what we’ve achieved in the last 10 years and the wonderful families we’ve had the privilege of working with and can’t wait to help more families…

Do reach out to us if you’d like to discuss our therapy options and how we can help you.

Kyle & Becky x

We always try and support the small businesses where we can in our daily life.

We thought this was such a nice way of explaining how you can too! The best part it doesn’t cost a penny to do!

Did you know all the uses and benefits of this?

A wobble cushion may look like nothing much but we’d say it’s small but mighty, super portable and a great piece of kit to have.

The cushion can be used to sit on it or your child can stand on it and both options offer lots of benefits and best of all it’s fun for al the family to get involved in!

Here’s just some of the reasons it’s so good 👇

Seated benefits:

• Helps improve core strength and postural control by encouraging the body to make small adjustments to stay balanced

• Can support sitting balance and stability, particularly for children who find it difficult to maintain an upright posture

• Encourages active sitting, helping children stay more engaged and aware of their body position

• May help improve coordination and body awareness (proprioception) through gentle movement and balance challenges

• Can support focus and concentration for some children who benefit from small amounts of movement input while sitting

• Provides gentle sensory feedback through the hips, pelvis and feet, helping support nervous system regulation and body awareness

Standing benefits:

• Helps develop balance reactions and stability by encouraging controlled weight shifting

• Activates core, leg, foot and ankle muscles to help maintain standing balance

• Supports proprioception and sensory input through the feet, helping the brain better understand body position and movement

• Encourages activation of the small stabilising muscles in the feet and ankles

• Can help improve coordination and movement confidence during standing activities

• Offers sensory input through the soles of the feet, which may help some children feel more grounded and regulated

• Encourages postural control and upright alignment during play and movement tasks

• Makes balance practice more engaging and fun through gentle movement and challenge

If using standing it’s best used barefoot to really get the connections from foot to brain fired up.

Try playing “Simon says” game to challenge your to balance and do the action. Throwing a soft ball is also good.

Using the wobble cushion is good for all the family to do, but don’t be fooled it looks a lot easier than it is…

💡Top tip - the more inflated it is the harder it is!

Enjoy!

Your child’s physical and mental wellbeing are closely connected and both play an important role in overall health and quality of life.

Yoga can be a wonderful activity for children with Cerebral Palsy, mixing gentle movement, stretching and breathing techniques.

Regular stretching and movement can also help support flexibility, posture, circulation and body awareness, while the slower pace and breathing exercises can also encourage relaxation and calm the nervous system.

Do remember child is different, so movements should be adapted to suit individual needs and comfort levels.

Here’s some YouTube channels worth looking at if you’d like to try out some yoga

🧘‍♀️Cosmic Kids Yoga YouTube Channel

Fun, story-based yoga sessions for children that support movement, balance, coordination and relaxation. Very popular with families and schools.

🧘‍♂️Mind Body Solutions Adaptive Yoga YouTube Channel

Adaptive yoga resources focused on accessible movement and inclusive yoga practices, suitable for a range of physical abilities.

Links to their channels in the comments

💚Mental Health Awareness Month 💚

As parents and carers, we spend so much time looking after everyone else that our own wellbeing can sometimes slip down the list.

So today’s question is a simple one…

What’s one small thing that helps you reset when life feels overwhelming?

A walk? A coffee in peace? Fresh air? Music? Five quiet minutes?

We’d love to know what your go-to is to help your mental health. You never know your way might just help someone else.