What is Bobath therapy – How can it help with neurological conditions?

Bobath is a unique physiotherapy treatment designed to enhance mobility and movement in
patients with central nervous system damage.

Highly recommended by physiotherapists for rehabilitation, this therapy activates sensory and
motor pathways to facilitate normal movement and motor control in patients with neurological conditions.

The Concept

The Bobath concept is a problem-solving approach used in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement, tone, and functional impairments.
It is named after Berta Bobath, a physiotherapist, and her husband Karl, a psychiatrist/neuropsychiatrist who originally developed the technique for effective management of neuro-motor dysfunctions manifested by children with Cerebral Palsy (CP).

Before this braces, passive stretching, and surgery were the most common forms of interventions. Bobath provided a new reference that viewed children with CP as having difficulty with postural control and movement against gravity.

The concept is now the most used treatment approach in neurorehabilitation globally. As patient needs evolve, so does the Bobath concept. It grows and adapts with the changing presentations of various neurological conditions, always staying ahead with the latest theories, models, and information.

Benefits of Bobath Therapy

Bobath physiotherapists strive to guide your movement towards an energy-efficient, natural
flow, preventing and countering abnormal patterns in the process to:

• Make movements easier to achieve that are precise and goal-directed
• Improve posture and normalise tone
• Regain motor control
• Increase independence and improve ability with everyday activities
• Achieve maximum potential
• Lengthen tight muscles to help decrease spasticity and reduce contractures

The Bobath approach also emphasises the importance of early rehabilitation, consistency of
practice and a stimulating environment to promote recovery.

Principles of Bobath

Based on the brain’s inherent ability to change, reorganise, and recover after neurological damage.

The Bobath approach rests on several principles that include:

• Normalisation of tone to facilitate active movement
• Discouragement of compensatory movements
• Positioning and posture in lying, sitting and standing
• Focusing on quality of movement and encouragement of normal movement patterns
• Promotion of maximum functional recovery to improve quality of independence

Bobath explores unique handling techniques designed to prevent over-exertion and provide essential sensory feedback.