What is Rebound Therapy?
In the UK, ‘Rebound Therapy’ means the therapeutic use of the trampoline. It is distinct from gymnastic trampolining.
Rebound Therapy is a general method that has become widespread throughout the UK across Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy & Education. Therefore, there is no specific trademark or license to purchase.
Rebound Therapy is not a regulated intervention or profession in itself. It is one of many ‘tools in a toolbox’ used by practitioners as part of a wider therapeutic program for children and adults with disabilities.
As there is no governing body for this activity in the UK, there is not one specific organisation that individuals must go to in order to be trained in rebound therapy.
The rebound therapy intervention provided by BounceOT is not a trampolining sport. All BounceOT staff comply with expert guidelines published by The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) special interest group Rebound Therapy Association for Chartered Physiotherapists. They published ‘Safe Practice in Rebound Therapy’ in 2016.
What is Therapeutic Play?
Therapeutic Play means making play purposeful - or in other words, playing 'for a reason'. This is not the same as Play Therapy.
At BounceOT, anything more than free-play is what we call being targeted. The play can still be child led, but everything we do in sessions is for a reason - e.g. to support sensory regulation, or to challenge the individual physically without them realising it 'harder work'. This why we call our certified staff who facilitate direct, targeted support ‘Therapeutic Play Leaders’.
All BounceOT staff are trained under the principles of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Play Guidelines, published in 2023.
This is the foundation for all our work - it ensures staff at all levels of BounceOT follow an evidence-based use of play in assessment and intervention, and to evaluate play participation as a meaningful goal or outcome for the child or adult accessing our services.
Rebound Therapy & Therapeutic Play Options
1:1 Therapeutic Play Leader
One of our certified Play Leaders will facilitate inclusive, therapeutic play activities for your child or the person you support at our autism and wheelchair friendly therapy room in Stirling!
Family Fun Sessions
Come along and enjoy some leisure time together – or play with a purpose – as a family, or with the person you support, in our inclusive, autism & wheelchair friendly space.
How does Rebound Therapy help?
Physical Activity
An opportunity to participate in fun, physical activity that can be adapted for your different needs!
Social Communication
An opportunity to connect through play with friends and family!
Sensory Regulation
An opportunity to explore how you regulate your nervous system to feel your best!
Our Publications
We actively contribute to the evidence base for rebound therapy in the UK. Our Founder & Lead Occupational Therapist, Callum, is currently undertaking the following research & consultancy projects:
- Developing a ‘Therapeutic Use of The Trampoline’ guide (funded by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists)
- Dissertation about the use of rebound therapy in Occupational Therapy – MSc Advancing Practice in Occupational Therapy at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
- Presenting about BounceOT and our work at national conferences – like in the Keynote Theatre at The OT Show.
Callum published a journal article 'Rebound Therapy: exercise and fun on a trampoline’ in December 2022.
Stirling Rebound Therapy Room
