Multifunctional Therapy Unit

MULTIFUNCTIONAL THERAPY UNIT (MTU)

With a variety of equipment in the Multifunctional Therapy Unit, the patient can experience dynamic balance activities such as transitioning from sitting to quadruped, quadruped to kneeling and transition all the way to standing with the assistance of bungee cords attached to the patient from 4 angles. While using this equipment the UEU is often referred to as the “spider cage” due to 8 bungees being used to assist the patient.

The spider cage is a wonderful tool to build strength, increase balance, and more importantly increase self confidence that they can do more challenging activities!

Many times the child can sit or stand unassisted by human hands for the first time in their lives. Others can jump up and down for the first time in their lives! Although it is hard work exercising in the spider cage, the benefits pay off quickly and the children truly enjoy the freedom they experience while in the Multifunctional Therapy Unit.

Monkey Cage

This same piece of equipment can also be used to specifically strengthen targeted muscle groups. It is a wonderful tool used by therapists to isolate specific muscles that are weak through the use of weights and pulleys. Often a patient compensates his or her movements when performing exercises by using other parts of their body. For example when asked to pick up a weak leg while lying on their back, a child typically pushes down on the floor with their back, their arms or arches their back.

The Monkey Cage reduces the patient’s ability to compensate and promotes movements while strengthening in correct form. The patient learns to use the correct muscles to perform movements, such as leg lifts. As their muscles become stronger, the patient’s quality of movement increases because they require less compensation with their new strength.