What is a sensory swing?
A sensory swing is a piece of suspended equipment. They are typically utilized in therapeutic settings: rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, schools, etc by occupational therapists (OTs). However, through consultation with an OT, they can be installed in homes.
What does a sensory swing do?
Sensory swings provide vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual input to the central nervous system (CNS). Vestibular input is defined as information from the head, ear canals, and body that controls our balance, movement, and coordination. Proprioceptive input can be understood as information from the muscles, tendons, and joints that helps us with body awareness, posture, coordination, and use of force. Visual input is information received from the eyes, such as light, color, and movement. Depending on which movements are performed on the swing, they can be alerting or calming to the CNS. Rotary movements (spinning) can be stimulating to the CNS and could be utilized with individuals to increase their level of alertness, body awareness, and muscle tone. Linear movements (back-and-forth, side-to-side, up and down) can be regulating to the CNS and should be utilized with individuals who require
Who can use a sensory swing?
Typically, children with sensory processing difficulties utilize sensory swings. Children with sensory processing difficulties can include diagnoses, such as: SPD, ADD, ADHD, Anxiety, Austim, PTSD, etc. These diagnoses present with difficulty processing some or all of the following sensory information: visual, auditory, olfactory, oral, tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive. However, all individuals of all ages can benefit from using them regardless of a diagnosis or condition existing.
Swing types and purposes:
- Platform Swing
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- Provides vestibular and visual input.
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- Promotes balance, postural control, core strength.
- Lycra Swing
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- Provides vestibular and proprioceptive input.
- Promotes organization and regulation of CNS, awareness of body in space, and attention/focus.
- Bolster Swing
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- Provides vestibular input.
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- Promotes grasp, upper body strength, motor planning, bilateral coordination, crossing midline, balance, postural control, core stability, and lower body strength.
- Standard Duel Swing:
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- Provides vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual input.
- Promotes core stability and motor planning.
- Disc Swing:
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- Provides vestibular input.
- Promotes grasp, upper body strength, bilateral coordination, balance, core strength, and motor planning.
- Mushroom Swing:
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- Provides vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual input.
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- Promotes balance, postural control, core strength, bilateral motor coordination, and visuomotor coordination.
- Trapeze Bar:
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- Provides vestibular and proprioceptive input.
- Promotes grasp, upper body strength, core stability, and endurance.
- Steering Wheel Swing:
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- Provides vestibular input.
- Promotes grasp, upper body strength, and core stability.
Safety First:
- Ensure proper installment
- Provide soft surface below
- Consult an OT for how to utilize
- Supervise children at all times
