Spider Cage / Gait Training

A spider cage is a unique cage built to suspend children using a bungee system. This allows children to maintain upright by taking away challenges such as balance, and body limitations. Once suspended we can work on everything from walking, jumping, bike riding, balance, and functional movements. Kids LOVE the spider cage and the freedom it gives them. Who benefits from spider cage? The spider cage is perfect for children with high or low muscle tone, balance difficulties, weakness, visual impairments, and more. The spider cage is designed for children who have difficulties maintaining themselves in upright in a variety of positions such as standing, walking, and jumping. The amount of happy tears we have seen when a child jumps for the first time in the cage... priceless! What do we do with the treadmill? Treadmill training (or gait training) in the spider cage is one of my favorite exercises! Once a child is suspended we place them on a treadmill and practice walking. Each child is different - some may walk on the treadmill with no assistance, others require therapist assistance. We work on principles of neuroplasticity and motor learning, stepping with proper alignment, strength, coordination, and balance.