AusLeisure

Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), has called on the new Federal Government to fund exercise physiology services for children living with a disability as part of its planned National Disability Insurance Scheme policy changes.

ESSA spokesperson and Paralympian Damien Bowen said under the existing Better Start Early Intervention Service, parents and carers were forced to pay for exercise physiology treatments out of their own pockets, placing unnecessary financial strain on families who were already under a lot of pressure.

Bowen explained "families with a disabled child often face significant financial demands when accessing diagnostic, treatment and disability management service.

"While ESSA commends the previous ALP Government for having introduced a number of new initiatives in the disability sector to ease the financial burden on families and carers, it is also crucial that exercise physiology services are listed as a free service to provide children with a disability with a full spectrum of treatment options."

"Exercise physiology treatment regimes vary based on the specifics of a child's disability but include activities such as crawling, balancing, catching and throwing a ball, safe-falling practices, water therapy and stretching sessions."

Bowen said while the new Liberal government had considered young carers in its Policy for Disability and Carers, it had failed to include new policies specifically for young people living with a disability.

"It's disappointing to see young people with a disability have been largely overlooked in recent rounds of election promises, particularly when intervention at this stage of their lives can have a dramatic impact on their quality of life in both the short and long-term."

ESSA spokesperson Chad Timmermans said extensive research conducted by various academics in the exercise physiology field had affirmed that intensive exercise interventions had a positive impact on the physical development of children with disabilities.

Timmermans added "structured exercise programs are shown to dramatically improve the quality of life and physical capabilities of children with conditions including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and Prader Willi syndrome, as well as other intellectual and physical disabilities."

Timmermans regularly prescribes intensive home exercise programs for children with disabilities, with a recent cerebral palsy patient, Anthea Scott, just one of the many Australian children that has benefited greatly from exercise physiology treatments.

Timmermans said when Anthea was age five, her parents were told their daughter would never walk unaided and would require a walker or wheel chair for mobility, stating "despite the verdict, Anthea's family and friends dedicated two hours each day to implementing an intensive home-exercise program that was designed to improve her physical mobility.

"Two years have now passed since commencing the exercise program and Anthea can walk independently, even over rough ground."

Anthea's mother Kirsty Scott said her daughter's gross and fine motor skills had improved markedly as a result of the treatment, as had her confidence, explaining "the consultations with Chad have contributed greatly to our daughter's improvements in mobility, muscle strength, control, balance and general development.

"It requires a lot of dedication, but I would recommend this intervention to any family who is willing to work with their child to help them overcome some of their physical limitations."

Timmermans said accredited exercise physiologists were recognised by Medicare, the Department of Veteran's Affairs, workers' compensation authorities, third party insurers and most private health funds, and it was logical for the government to fund their services for children with disabilities.

"Exercise physiology sessions are mainstream allied health treatment options that have proven results; it would be great to see these become more accessible to families with disabled children so these kids are provided with the best possible quality of life."

ESSA is Australia's peak professional body for accredited exercise physiologists.

For more information go to www.essa.org.au

6th August 2013 - ESSA WELCOMES GREEN’S INCLUSION OF REGULATION FOR SPORTS SCIENTISTS 

28th June 2012 - EXERCISE PROVEN TO REDUCE AUSTRALIANS’ DIABETES RISK 

21st October 2011 - FITNESS NOT FATNESS SHOULD BE MANTRA ​

2nd September 2011 - GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS MUST ‘GET TOUGH ON OBESITY’

19th August 2009 - ONE MILLION MORE AUSTRALIANS DO REGULAR PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.