Upper limb

Children needing specialist interventions to support upper-limb function in daily life will usually have a life-long disability affecting their range of movement and tone.

Occupational therapists use a range of interventions to support children with use of their upper-limbs depending on the underlying difficulty. Children with neurological impairments which affect their tone, including Cerebral Palsy, or children with an acquired brain injury, may receive interventions including bi-manual therapy, modified constraint–induced movement therapy (CIMT), splinting or  upper-limb programmes.

Children’s Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service (CITES) work closely with specialist providers including Evelina London children's hospital and Chailey Clinical Services. We also provide splinting post-hospital discharge or post Botox treatment.

Some children with hypermobility or Ehrlers-Danlos Syndrome may experience pain because of subluxation (partial dislocation) of finger joints. These children may need hand strengthening programmes to be regularly completed at home and school or a basic splint to support functional tasks such as handwriting.

Children with complex difficulties associated with their upper-limb function can be referred to Chailey by the occupational therapist who will normally attend the specialist clinic.

• Find out more about the Chailey upper limb clinic