The NDT-Bobath neurodevelopmental therapy

The NDT-Bobath neurodevelopmental therapy is directed towards our youngest patients, due to its non-invasive character. It can be introduced within the first few days after the child’s birth.

NDT is a technique to facilitate the movements which may not be present in the Cerebral Palsy children.

Facilitation is a process in which the physiotherapist's hand gives a direction the child's body to move. In this technique the physiotherapist holds full control of the child's body weight and movement. The Physiotherapist directs the body to move its COG (Center of Gravity). As the COG changes direction, the child's control over its balance is lost. The Physiotherapist needs to teach the child how to gain control again by shifting its weight to another side. This would be a part of NDT.

The physiotherapist's work is based on controlling the child’s activity from so called "key points" - the head, neck and shoulder etc in order to create proper posture patterns, along with teaching the child how to use and control them.

NDT-Bobath therapy is directed at newborn babies - including prematurely born children, infants and young children, especially those with:

Developmental problems caused by prematurity

Motor developmental disorders

A delay in reaching all major milestones (sitting, crawling, standing) in child's development.

Muscle tone disorders (babies not tolerating tummy time or toe-walking)

Asymmetrical body posture

Feeding and swallowing problems

Children repeating the same patterns of movement

Problems with fine and gross motor skills

Problems with balance and co-ordination

Children with Sensory Processing Disorder

Neurological Disorders

(Cerebral Palsy, Erb's Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Microcephaly, Hydrocephaly, Spina Bifida)

Patients who had Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy

(Pre(SDR) and Post(SDR)Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy

Genetic disorders:

(Down Syndrome, CDKL5, Mowat-Wilson Syndrome, West syndrome etc)

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Postural problems:

(Scoliosis, asymmetry, flat feet, knee hyperextension etc)

Bobath assessment and treatment techniques are not only used with neurodevelopmental conditions.