Intensive therapy week

You have been invited to attend an intensive therapy week with the metabolic bone disease team. This resource will give you an idea of what to expect from us throughout the week and what will be expected of you and your parents and carers.

What is an intensive therapy week?

During an intensive therapy week you will stay at Sheffield Children’s hospital for up to 4 nights.

Your appointment will be on a Monday afternoon at 1pm and leave on Friday at lunchtime.

A therapy week can be arranged at the same time as one of your regular treatment visits or it may be entirely separate.

Why have I been chosen?

You may have had a lot of fractures or recent orthopaedic surgery which means you are not as able to do the things you can normally do.

You may feel that you would like extra therapy to help you achieve a goal you have set yourself.

The intensive therapy week can help you improve your range of movement, muscle length and muscle strength.

We will work with you to develop your skills and confidence to help you move forward and progress.

What happens when I come in for an intensive therapy week?

On the Monday afternoon, you will be assessed by a physiotherapist and occupational therapist. This will be either on the hospital ward or in the physiotherapy department. During the assessment we will look at the movement of your arms and legs.

We will ask you to demonstrate some activities and ask you some questions about how you move around your environment at home, at school and in the community.

All this information will help us decide together what will be your main therapy goals and aims for the week.

This will help you to work towards things you want to achieve for example to improve your mobility or your independence.

After this, an exercise plan will be designed for you and you may be assessed for new equipment all of which will help you achieve your goals.

You will be seen 2 times a day by a physiotherapist or occupational therapist during your stay. You will be given a timetable for these visits.

We will show you and your parent or carer exercises that will help to achieve your goals and you will be asked to do your exercises on your own or with your parents or carer in the evening.

On the Friday you will have a final assessment. We will be able to see the improvements you have made during the week and identify any areas which you still need to work on.

What happens after the week?

You will be given a personalised program of activities to continue at home.

We will speak to your local occupational therapist and physiotherapist making them aware of your improvement, program and current goals.

We will give a follow-up out patient appointment for 6 weeks after this appointment in the physiotherapy department.

We may also ask you for feedback on how you and your family felt the week went so that we can insure we continue to provide out patients the best care.

Will an intensive therapy week hurt?

The intensive therapy week is hard work. Sometimes this hard work leads to muscle pain which your therapist may call ‘delayed onset muscle soreness’ (DOMS).

There are many reasons why DOMS can happen, but this pain is normal and does not cause any permanent damage. This is not something you should worry about as your therapist will be very able to help you with this.

It might even make your muscles more able to do the exercises in the future.

If you are concerned or interested in this please talk to your physiotherapist.

Who else might I meet during my intensive therapy week?

Clinical psychologist

Along with meeting the physiotherapist and occupational therapist, you might meet the team’s clinical psychologist.

A clinical psychologist’s job is to help young people and their families in times of difficulty. They will listen to your concerns and try to understand your situation and find a helpful way forward. This can be a variety of things such as managing difficult treatments and procedures or feeling worried or upset.

They are here to help you to make changes for the better. A clinical psychologist is not a medical doctor and so does not prescribe medicines or do any physical examinations.

Meeting the psychologist is your choice. You can decide if their help and advice is helping you. If you would like any further information about this you can speak to any of the team.

Orthotist

An orthotist works with the team and provides things such as insoles, footwear, braces and splints to help your movement and discomfort.

If you think you want an orthotic appointment, please speak to the physiotherapist or occupational therapist before you come for you intensive therapy week.