What is Rebound Therapy?
“Rebound Therapy” was coined in 1969 by Eddy Anderson, who founded the practice of using trampolines for movement, therapeutic exercise, and recreation for individuals across a wide spectrum of special needs.
What are the Benefits of Rebound Therapy?
Rebound Therapy offers numerous benefits, such as:
- Facilitating movement
- Promoting balance
- Enhancing or regulating muscle tone
- Supporting relaxation
- Encouraging sensory integration
- Improving fitness and exercise tolerance
- Enhancing communication skills
Case Studies
Isla’s Story
As a Rebound Therapy practitioner, I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that trampoline therapy can have on clients. Here are a few examples of the progress made by my clients.
Background
Isla, who has been attending rebound therapy sessions for 18 months, acquired a brain injury at birth that led to cerebral palsy. She is wheelchair-dependent, nonverbal, and has additional diagnoses of autism and epilepsy.
Progress
Despite her physical challenges, Isla can now stand and bounce while holding my hands, a development that brings her immense joy. Her improved muscle tone also allows her to initiate bouncing on her own by bending her knees to gain momentum. This newfound ability gives her greater independence and enjoyment during therapy.
Communication and Engagement
We integrate Isla’s AAC device into her sessions, offering her opportunities to communicate her preferences. For example, she often uses the device to say, “This is fun,” or request “More bouncing, go!” Working alongside her physiotherapist, we incorporate essential exercises into her sessions in ways that are fun and engaging, helping her work on daily life skills in a relaxed setting.
Sensory Benefits
For Isla, who benefits from activities that keep her alert and regulated, the trampoline’s sensory feedback is invaluable. She enjoys feeling the trampoline’s surface and often removes her socks to feel the texture on her feet. The bouncing provides proprioceptive input, which helps her regulate sensory processing.
Finding Motivation
On days when Isla is dysregulated or unmotivated, she may appear disengaged, even slumped in her chair. But with the right support and adaptive approaches, Isla thrives, and her sessions offer her the chance to reach new milestones.
Abbie’s Story
Background
Abbie, a young person with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), has been attending Rebound Therapy sessions for over a year. She is wheelchair-dependent, non-verbal, has impaired vision and hearing, and cannot sit up independently.
Sensory Experience
For Abbie, the trampoline offers a rich sensory experience. Laying her on a parachute placed on the trampoline creates a soft, colorful environment with gentle sounds as she bounces. She prefers to lie on her back, as it allows her to freely move her arms and legs.
Building Core Strength
To support her core strength, I gently bounce her while seated in a beanbag. With her high muscle tone, a major goal of her sessions is to help her relax through rhythmic bouncing.
Communication and Response
To encourage Abbie’s communication, I pause and resume bouncing at her signal. Over time, I’ve learned that when she wants to continue, she will bang her head or arm on the trampoline. She also nods or shakes her head for yes and no, and she often vocalizes her enjoyment during larger bounces.
Engagement and Eye Tracking
To stimulate eye tracking and engagement, I use the parachute to slide her side-to-side on the trampoline. When Abbie is particularly engaged, she tracks my movements around the trampoline, which I encourage by moving rhythmically around her. Sensory tools like ribbons and bubbles also help her focus and engage.
Adapting to Abbie’s Needs
Abbie’s movements are limited, so creativity is essential during her sessions. I frequently try new ideas until I find activities that resonate with her. Rebound Therapy is one of the few activities that provides individuals with PMLD the opportunity to be active, each in their own unique way.
Rebound Therapy offers meaningful, engaging physical activities and sensory experiences for individuals like Isla and Abbie, allowing them to thrive through tailored support and adaptive approaches.
Liberty Sheard, Rebound Therapy Practitioner and NAC Researcher