The HemiHelp (www.hemihelp.org.uk ) charity provides support and information to people with hemiplegia and their families in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Kiki has been a long term HemiHelp supporter and was proud to support those who have hemiplegia by making the DVD “My Moves”. This DVD is a home exercise aid developed specifically for children with hemiplegia and their parents.
Exercises shown in My Moves are designed to use both sides of the body, build muscle strength, improve posture and encourage a wide range of movement.
The My Moves Exercises Children Hemiplegia film, presented by Kiki von Eisenhart-Goodwin was made in collaboration with Open CC and is available for purchase through the HemiHelp website .
“We thought it was excellent – the format is great and easy to follow.”
“My Moves taught us new ways of doing exercises that had never occurred to us.”
“It’s nice for my daughter to see other children with hemiplegia doing these exercises, so she knows she is not alone.”
The short introduction reviews the key aims and principles of physiotherapy, and gives guidance on using My Moves at home. The rest of the DVD is divided into four sections for different age groups.
Don’t worry if your child isn’t ready to do some of the things others in their age group can do. We recommend that you watch the whole film first before deciding which exercises will best meet the needs of your child. You can stop and start the DVD at any point so take your time to get familiar with each exercise.
At the end of each chapter is a ‘Thoughts and Feelings’ section where parents and children share their experiences and tips on getting active.
Remember – all the exercises shown in My Moves can be done at home, even with limited space. Don’t worry if you don’t have much time; frequent, short sessions will still be worthwhile.
My Moves is not a substitute for face to face sessions with a physiotherapist. We emphasise that if your child has a therapist and you are using the DVD, you should discuss this with them carefully and follow their advice.