Rebound Therapy improving health for young people with autism
Young people with autism in Wigan Borough can now benefit from an innovative sports therapy.
Rebound Therapy uses gentle trampolining to allow young people with autism to build muscle tone and strengthen their core stability.
The sessions are run by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unit every Thursday from 4.30 – 6.30pm for six week blocks at Leigh Indoor Sports Centre, Leigh Sports Village.
Daniel Jones at his Rebound Therapy session.
Back row, left to right: Personal Assistant Madeleine Roberts, Mum Lynne Jones and Sports Development worker Tim Rees.
Front row, left to right: Daniel Jones, seven, and sister Ella, four.
Adam Blezard, from the Sports Development Unit, said: “Studies have shown that Rebound Therapy can have a real effect on young people with autism and this new course is already getting some great recognition in Wigan Borough.
“Trampolining to music is a brilliant way for the young people to not only relax but also build up their muscle strength.
“As with all our disability sports sessions, there may be the opportunity for the young people involved to be eventually signposted on to mainstream sports clubs once they have completed the Rebound Therapy course.”
The sessions are already throwing up some impressive results for the families who have attended.
Seven year-old Daniel Jones who attends Hope School has been taking part in the Rebound Therapy sessions.
His mum Lynne said: “Daniel has poor muscle tone so this is really helping to strengthen him.
“It is normally hard to get him to exercise but he has really taken to Rebound Therapy.
“Since he has started to come here he can actually walk up stairs whereas before we always had to use a stair lift for him.”
Wigan Council have commissioned Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sport Development Unit to run the Rebound Therapy.
A further £2000 was also provided to help purchase an extra trampoline by the council’s Short Breaks Team, who provide short breaks for young people with disabilities and their carers.
The sessions are open to young people with autism aged 5 – 19 (currently this doesn’t include wheelchair users or people requiring use of a hoist). A pre-assessment form needs to be completed prior to taking part.
All Sports Development Unit staff are fully qualified to run the sessions and have received specialised training.
WLCT’s Sports Development Unit also run further sports sessions for young people with a range of disabilities including multi-sports sessions, dance and cheerleading and a wheels for all group using specially adapted bikes.
To book on the next six week Rebound Therapy course, or to find out more about opportunities in disability sports, call Sports Development on 01942 404982 or email sdu@wlct.org.
For more information on Rebound Therapy go to www.reboundtherapy.org.
