Upper limb movement analysis clinic

Monday to Wednesday at 10am and 1.30pm.

Children can be referred to our service by their clinician such as a GP, paediatrician, neurologist or orthopaedic surgeon.

A community physiotherapist or occupational therapist may also refer in consultation with the healthcare professionals listed above.

We will send an appointment to you after we receive a referral.

Please ring 020 7188 2476 to change or cancel your appointment.

Please tell us as soon as possible so that we can offer your appointment to another patient.

Upper limb movement analysis is the assessment of how people move their arms. At an upper limb movement analysis appointment we record the movement of your child's arms and the activation patterns of their muscles.

We will record your child’s movement while they sit and perform a range of tasks including reaching and touching a target, picking up a bottle and other functional or play based tasks. Small sensors are attached on to your child's arms that record the electrical signals of their muscles. These tell us when their body is turning their muscles on and off. We also measure the range of movement of their arms by gently moving them and measuring the angles.

Upper limb movement analysis happens in two stages:

• gathering information about your child's arm movement and function
• putting this information together in a report which will help your child's doctor or therapist make decisions about treatment.

The plastic balls and sensors that we use to record your child's movements are held on with small amounts of sticky tape. When these are removed at the end of the appointment it may cause a little discomfort, but they are less sticky than plasters.

Your child’s arms and shoulders need to be seen clearly by the cameras. The best clothing to wear is a vest top.

If you child uses any upper limb splints please bring these with you.

You may also wish to bring a drink or snack with your due to the length of the appointment.

Depending on the amount of information needed, the analysis can take up to two and a half hours, however there will be lots of time for your child to rest throughout the appointment.

We will not be able to give you the results on the same day as your child's appointment. Results are sent in a report within six weeks.

After the appointment, we analyse the data in the laboratory, write a report and review that report with a team of movement specialists (including clinical scientists, therapists and orthopaedic surgeons).

Copies of the report get sent to your child's referrer, so that they can discuss it with you and your child when you next see them. We advise you to contact your referrer if you do not know the date of your child's follow-up appointment.

Your child may be seen at the gait laboratory again but the doctor would need to make a new referral.