Physiotherapy

“Physiotherapy is a health care profession that uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being, taking account of variations in health.”

Physiotherapist Dr. Heather Epps says that when working with clients she looks at the written evidence, considers her own experiences and those of others and then makes a decision based on an assessment of the clients abilities and needs as to how she can help them to maintain and improve their physical abilities and independence by the use of programmes, equipment, orthotics (splinting materials/braces/special shoes), and advice on activities in the community.

Personalised physiotherapy programmes are client focused and tailored to meet the individual needs of each client. Heather sets short and long term objectives with the clients or their advocate to help them to achieve specific physical goals, which may be linked to other interdisciplinary programmes or daily life, such as improving posture to assist swallowing, increase concentration or reduce back ache; improving movement to enable interactive dance or drama, increasing walking distance to access shopping centres or being able to use gym equipment safely.

For clients with severe learning and physical difficulties Heather spends a lot of time working with IHL staff so that they can apply physiotherapy principles throughout the day whenever they are assisting clients in participating in physical activities. This can range from activities such as sitting at a chair to draw or eat – to riding a bike or participating in sport. Physiotherapy then becomes part of the client centred environment in which care, learning, therapy and recreation are fully integrated.

Heather also attends and supports clients requiring other interventions that will affect their physical abilities and posture such as botulinum toxin injections, orthopaedic surgery and casting for splints. She liaises closely with the relevant consultants, NHS physiotherapists, equipment specialists and orthotists to ensure that the client’s physical needs are met and they are prepared for any such interventions.