• Reference Number: HEY-396/2019
• Departments: Physiotherapy
• Last Updated: 28 February 2019

Your physiotherapist has decided that your child would benefit from participating in a gym programme. This leaflet has been produced to give you and your child general information about the paediatric gym.

The paediatric gym is situated in the main Physiotherapy Department on the second floor of the tower block at Hull Royal Infirmary.

The exercises your child will do will be specific to their needs and prescribed by a physiotherapist.  The exercises will aim to improve the strength of certain muscle groups, the range of movement at particular joints, and improve your child’s balance and control of movement. Often a home exercise plan will also be given.  It is important that your child completes their home exercises in order to get the most benefit from their treatment.

Your child may be in the gym for between 20 to 45 minutes, on a weekly or twice-weekly basis, depending on your child’s needs. Your child will be supervised in the gym by a physiotherapist or one of two experienced physiotherapy assistants.  Exercise programmes will be reviewed by your physiotherapist regularly and sessions will finish when your physiotherapist feels it is appropriate.

Up to three children may be seen in the gym at any one time with supervision from one or two staff depending on the level of ability of the children.

We ask that parents wait outside the gym during the sessions due to the limited space we have available. If siblings (brothers or sisters) are brought along they cannot be brought into the gym for safety reasons.  There are seats outside the gym where you can wait with them.

Depending on your child’s condition, some of the exercises may cause some discomfort. This discomfort may stay for around an hour after the session but should settle down after this. With practice, this discomfort should get less and less. Your child may also experience some muscle ache following their gym sessions due to working their muscles harder than usual. This will usually start the day after activity and may last until the following evening.

If your child reports any different symptoms then you should inform your physiotherapist on your next session.  If you have any concerns you wish to discuss before your child’s next appointment, please do not hesitate to call the department to speak to your physiotherapist. They may not be able to return your call immediately but if you leave a message they will get back to you as soon as they can.

What you need to bring

 Your child should bring with them:

• Suitable clothing (i.e. shorts/tracksuit bottoms, t-shirt)
• Clean trainers (children will NOT be allowed into the gym with muddy trainers)
• Drink (water or juice only, no fizzy drinks please)
• If your child is asthmatic please ensure they have their inhaler with them

Your child will be able to change when they get to the department. We ask that you ensure your child’s trainers are clean and therefore we encourage them to travel in different shoes if needed.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the Physiotherapy Department (01482) 674532