The power of marketing & branding -
What does a household product and a therapeutic intervention/ activity have in common?
Well, obviously, nothing practically or visually - but from a branding perspective they’re the same concept.
A 'hoover' is the word that everyone uses to describe vacuum cleaning. I find myself often saying that I am ‘going to hoover the carpets’ - whereas, by definition, I mean that I’m going to use the vacuum cleaner on the carpets.
The only Hoover that I own is my fridge…but that’s a confusing concept isn’t it?!
This is because my fridge (product) is made by Hoover (brand)…not that I’m going to hoover/vacuum my fridge!
In the UK, the legal definition of the term rebound therapy is -
"the therapeutic use of the trampoline"
I published research about the use of Rebound Therapy by registered Occupational Therapists earlier this year - you can read more about it here!
More recently at bounceOT, we instructed our solicitors to confirm this legal definition within our Statement of Position about rebound therapy.
You can read the full Statement here!
The legal Statement also helps outline some of the most common questions/ FAQ's and myths about rebound therapy practice. I presented some of this information at a national OT conference a few months ago in Birmingham - you can read about it/ see some of the slides here!
FAQ examples -
Is Rebound Therapy governed by British Gymnastics? No
Is Rebound Therapy Ltd/ Rebound Therapy. Org the regulatory body? No
Another analogy that I have heard from people working in this field is -
"The term rebound therapy is like football or rugby"
Again, this is because the term is generic...descriptive, even.
There are various companies working across the UK - including us - who provide a range of rebound therapy services...e.g. 1:1 and group sessions with children and adults (often children and adults with disabilities and/or learning disabilities - ADHD, Autism, PMLD).
Equally, there are many different NHS & Council services providing 1:1 and group rebound therapy sessions to children and adults with disabilities. For example, Education, Health & Social Care.
Therefore, rebound therapy is not a specific business/ model/ or methodology - it is not standardised either
It is important to state this very clearly 'as fact' since, unfortunately, there are ongoing attempts to mislead public opinion, from a private company who claim to be the UK body, regulator and insurance provider for rebound therapy
To prove the broad range of people/professionals and business/services offering rebound therapy [without any clinical and/or business links to the private company referred to above] - see...
Health
by registered Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists with HCPC - Health Care Professions Council
There's really useful guidance published by CSP (Chartered Society of Physiotherapists) special interest group - Rebound Therapy Association for Chartered Physiotherapists - about safe practice in rebound therapy... click here to view!
From a quick google, here's an information leaflet for parents/carers of children accessing Childrens Services in NHS in Wales
& another information leaflet for any stakeholder of rebound therapy in this NHS service.
& for a non-NHS Physio example of Assessment & Training in rebound therapy, click here to view Bounce Rebound Therapy!
Our courses allow staff to deliver ‘Physiotherapy-led’ sessions in line with national standards set out by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). This does not mean that you have to be a Physiotherapist to attend our training or that a Physiotherapist must be present at every session. However, once trained, instructors must ensure that each participant has received an assessment and been provided with a session plan from a qualified Physiotherapist before commencing activities on the trampoline.
Also, there is a small innovation & research project happening in the background about the use of rebound therapy in OT - specifically with a learning disabilities OT angle (commissioned by the RCOT SSPLD - Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section for People with Learning Disabilities)
Education
All levels of staff who have taken rebound therapy training, so they can do it safely with pupils in their school environment. For examples of schools using rebound therapy, see our blogs about rebound therapy training by us at bounceOT in Glasgow & Stirling!
Social Care ... & 'family fun time' on the trampoline
Personal Assistants/ Support Work staff are becoming more skilled in using rebound therapy as part of their support role and/or time with an individual. For example, at bounceOT, we offer 1:1 sessions with a Therapeutic Play Leader [bounceOT employed and trained staff] - or people can book our space to use for fun, activity time.
Often, this is by support staff who have taken rebound therapy training with us at bounceOT/ who already have training or experience/ or parents and carers who want to participate in a leisure activity with the person they support.
In addition to booking our specialist space in Stirling, leisure centres and other venues with appropriate equipment/resources are allowing more and more opportunities for people to experience rebound therapy.
