88 General Hertzog Street, Dan Pienaar, 9301 Bloemfontein

+27 64 5353 464

info@bigstridesot.co.za

About Big Strides Occupational Therapy

Big Strides Occupational Therapy offers occupational therapy services to children in Bloemfontein, South Africa.


Welcome to Big Strides Occupational Therapy, where we are dedicated to nurturing the potential within every child. Our mission is to create a supportive and engaging environment that empowers children to overcome challenges and thrive in their daily lives.


At Big Strides, we understand the unique needs of each child and tailor our occupational therapy interventions to foster their physical, emotional, and cognitive development. We believe in a collaborative approach, working closely with parents, caregivers, teachers, and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive and effective support for each child. Whether your child is facing challenges related to sensory processing, motor coordination, handwriting, or daily living skills, we are here to guide them towards reaching their full potential.


 We are devoted to helping children build the skills they need for a lifetime of success.

Our Services

Screening of Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestones are functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can do at or by a certain age range. They include smiling for the first time, rolling over, and walking. The screening compares your child's milestones to those of other children of the same age. The tests evaluate whether your child is growing appropriately for their age by comparing your child's milestones to that of other children of the same age.

At Big Strides, we are firm believers that every child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. However, developmental screening is important as it could help identify a child in need of additional resources or services. The earlier a problem or challenge is identified and assistance or therapy is provided, the better the outcomes tend to be - early intervention is key!

School Readiness Assessments

A School Readiness Assessment is a formal assessment or detailed analyses of your child's intellectual, physical and emotional readiness to start “big school”. They are usually recommended for children in the last term of their Grade R year.

During the assessment, the child will be observed by and undergo several tests and interviews with the therapist, all while they believe they are playing and doing activities.

The criteria used to determine school readiness are:

  • age
  • behaviour
  • physical development
  • emotional and social development
  • language & communication skills 
  • cognitive skills (including memory).

Parent Consultations/
Support

At Big Strides, we believe that, as a parent, you know your child best and have an active role in caring, supporting and advocating for your child. While it is a very important and rewarding job being a parent, it can also be very challenging, especially if your child experiences difficulties and challenges. There is not always enough time when your child is attending therapy to have discussions with your child’s therapist and have therapeutic support for your child at the same time. For this reason, we make use of parent consultations to provide you with the support you need and to help to develop and promote effective parenting. We work with parents to better understand and more skilfully respond to their child’s challenges. Some common goals of parent consultations include:

  •  figuring out how to help to relieve a child’s distress related to difficulties they face
  • reinforce new, more effective behaviours and extinguish unhealthy ones
  • strengthen the relationship between parents and their child
  • dealing with differences in parenting approaches between parents

Assessment of Childhood Development

Assessments are a vital stage of the occupational therapy process; they provide the therapists with a tool to gather important information regarding your child and the difficulties they are facing.

There are four main reasons why occupational therapists complete assessments:

  • To identify any concerns or difficulties and how they impact upon daily occupations
  • To prioritise main concerns
  • To naturally observe the child completing activities in school or at home
  • To observe social relationships and how they affect activities

All of our assessments are used to analyse how your child completes daily activities, the results of which will be used to create a therapy plan. Daily activities refer to the activities an average child completes, consisting mainly of three areas: play, school and home life. Typical childhood daily activities include tying shoe laces, getting dressed, balance and play movements, and handwriting.

Individualised Treatment

At Big Strides, we believe that every child is unique and special in their own way. For this reason, it is important that we individualize each child's treatment plan. Specific goals of treatment vary between each individual depending on the results of their assessments.

The duration of the sessions also vary from child to child, but we usually do 30-45 minute sessions with younger kiddies and 45-60 minute sessions with older kids.

Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is "a specialized physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes.”

- The Equine Assisted Therapy Association of South Africa (EATASA).

At Big Strides, we use hippotherapy to address challenges that accompany:

  • Sensory Processing Difficulties
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Down Syndrome and other genetic abnormalities
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Stroke
  • Developmental Delays
  • Learning Difficulties


The horse’s walk provides sensory input through movement, which is variable, rhythmic, and repetitive. The resultant movement responses in the child are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. The horse takes approximately 3,000 steps in a 20-minute hippotherapy session. For every stride the horse takes, the child has to shift their balance 8 times. This translates into 3,000 opportunities to form a new motor pathway for development and 24,000 opportunities for vestibular and postural development. 

The child thinks they’re just having fun and enjoys the relationship they have with the horse. In a therapy room, the child may struggle to focus long enough to achieve goals, whereas in hippotherapy, the movement they get from a horse often provides them with the sensory input they need in order to focus, and goals are often achieved faster. 

BRAIN UNLOCKED

At BRAIN UNLOCKED, we work out your genetic dominance with regards to your brain hemisphere, eye, ear, hand and foot to determine:

  • Function under normal circumstances as well as under stress;
  • Possible learning difficulties the learner might experience in their schooling;
  • Seating arrangement in class for optimal concentration;
  • Subject and career options ideal for the learner;
  • External stressors in the learner’s life;
  • Extra-mural activities and hobbies in which the learner will perform better than others;
  • Life skills that need development;
  • Learning style;
  • Preferences related to relationships and career
  • Traits and talents, which the learner might be unaware of.


We do this by specifically focusing on:

  • Genetic Brain Organisation Profile 
  • Career Guidance
  • Subject Choices
  • School Readiness Assessments
  • Couples Workshops
  • Study Skills

Group Sessions/ Workshops

We do group sessions or workshops at our practice, as well as at schools, churches and businesses. We address different topics, relevant to your group's needs, such as:

  • Importance of and How to Sleep Well
  • Conflict Management Amongst Couples and Families (based on their Genetic Brain Organisation Profile as determined by BRAIN UNLOCKED)
  • Improving Your Productivity in the Workplace (based on your Genetic Brain Organisation Profile as determined by BRAIN UNLOCKED)
  • Stress Management (can be done in conjunction with Genetic Brain Organisation Profile as determines by BRAIN UNLOCKED)

Meet the Team

Veronique Kruger

Occupational therapist


Big Strides is run by Veronique Kruger (B. OccTher UFS) who completed her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy at the University of the Free State in 2021. During her community service year, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a certified hippotherapy provider after completing an equine-assisted therapy course through EATASA (Equine-Assisted Therapy Association of South Africa).


She officially opened Big Strides Occupational Therapy in April of 2023, and has loved using hippotherapy as a treatment technique to achieve functional goals for the children she works with.


Veronique is also an EduProfile consultant and does brain profiling under BRAIN UNLOCKED, helping children and adults of all ages unlock their true potential through maximising their natural cognitive abilities.

Valé Fourie

Occupational therapist


Valé Fourie (B. OccTher UFS) is a compassionate occupational therapist who joined Big Strides with a passion for fostering emotional well-being through the power of play. She earned her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from the University of the Free State and has since dedicated herself to supporting children in processing trauma, building self-esteem, navigating social challenges, and exploring their emotions in a safe and nurturing environment.

Valé places great importance on healthy communication, thriving family dynamics, and prioritizing the mental health of both children and their caregivers. Her approach is rooted in creating meaningful connections that promote growth and healing.

​

Therapy Ponies

Domey

Nickname: Domes or Domesy

Favourite snack: Watermelon, apples, carrots and peanut butter Jungle bars

Favourite pastime: Rolling in the dirt and stealing other horses' breakfasts and dinners!


Domey loves kiddies and cuddles, and while she can be a bossy boots, she's actually just a teddy bear!

Pippie Langkous

Nickname: Pipsqueak, Pippie

Favourite Snack: Anything sweet!

Favourite pastime: Getting scratches and lots of love from humans


Pippie is real "teacher's pet"! She has wonderful manners and always gives her best in therapy! She adores getting attention, and will do anything to be told she's a good girl!

Potency

Nickname: Po, Mr. Po or Pony Po

Favourite Snack: Apples, carrots or anything you're willing to share!

Favourite pastime: Rolling in the sand or mud and eating as much as possible!


Po likes to pretend he's the boss and he even has a cute little side-kick that follows him around everywhere (she's a cheeky, little pony called Sally).

Occupational therapy is a science-driven, evidence-based professions that works towards enabling people of all ages and abilities be able to do all the things they need or want to do in their everyday lives, through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations).


For children, this usually includes:

  • Playing and making friends 
  • Learning and attending school 
  • Looking after themselves (eating, showering, dressing, going to the toilet, etc).


“Occupational therapy is where science, creativity and compassion collide.”

~ Jessica Kensky 

Your child may benefit from OT if they have a diagnosis such as:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder 
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Down Syndrome
  • Cerebral Palsy 
  • Multiple Sclerosis 
  • Traumatic Brain Injury


Or if they experience:

  • delayed milestones 
  • difficulty maintaining attention and concentration 
  • difficulty starting and/or finishing tasks
  • hyperactivity 
  • visual-perceptual difficulties 
  • sensory processing difficulties 
  • poor body awareness or coordination 
  • clumsiness 
  • inappropriate emotional responses 


It's important to remember that every child is unique and they all grow and learn and develop at different paces. However, if you're concerned about your child and/or their development, ask your paediatrician or get in touch with an occupational therapist. The sooner your concern is addressed, the better the outcomes tend to be! Trust your intuition!

Hippotherapy comes from the Greek words meaning “horse” (hippos) and “treatment” (therapy). 


Hippotherapy is done by qualified physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and/or speech therapists that have been trained in the use of hippotherapy as a treatment tool, where intentional movements of the horse are skilfully used to influence sensory, neuro motor, and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes in individuals. 


Simply put, hippotherapy is a therapeutic technique used by qualified physiotherapists, occupational therapists and/or speech therapists that makes use of the horse’s movement to reach functional goals.


Hippotherapy is not the same as therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning or equine-assisted psychotherapy, although all of these are incredible tools as well!


“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

~ Winston Churchill

The use of horses in occupational therapy is referred to as hippotherapy, which is a treatment technique that is derived from evidence-based practice and sound clinical reasoning skills. 


The horse’s movement is used to achieve long-term and short-term goals that are both functional and individualised to each patient.


A horse is used because its three-dimensional movement mimics the normal movements of the human pelvis when walking. 


The movement of a walking horse produces 100 rhythmic impulses per minute. This encourages the patient to maintain balance and an upright posture by repetitively challenging their postural reactions. Thus, balance and muscle control are improved, and trunk muscles are strengthened.


The horse and its environment provide incredible sensory and motor input which cannot be replicated in a gym or classroom setting. 


Hippotherapy has been seen to improve patients’ muscle strength, muscle coordination and tone, sensory processing abilities, talking abilities, fine motor skills, and general attention to tasks.

In hippotherapy, we make use of a team to ensure the safety of all those involved, especially the patient. The team consists of:

  • a well-trained horse that’s used to children, noise, toys and games
  • a horse handler that is excellent at reading the horse's body language, who knows and loves each horse, and who guides the horse around the arena
  • a therapist that’s trained in the use of hippotherapy, also has a great deal of knowledge when it comes to horses, and is trained to safely dismount the patient in the event of an emergency 
  • and a side-walker who walks on the opposite side of the horse as the therapists and assists with the therapy


Children are also required to wear helmets, and will always have either the therapist, side-walker, or both at their side or holding onto them.


That being said, it is important to remember that, as with anything in life, there are risks involved, and it is important to determine if the benefits of hippotherapy outweigh the risks or not. 

Certain pathologies/diagnoses are not suitable for hippotherapy, so should you be unsure, please chat to your child’s paediatrician or get in touch with us to answer any questions you may have.


However, one of the aspects of hippotherapy that makes it so incredible is the fact that a child with a disability, who would typically grow up more sheltered than their peers, now has the opportunity to participate in a riskier activity. When they see other children their age  who are typically developed riding horses as well, it gives them a sense of “normalcy” and of “belonging”. For a child who can’t walk on their own two feet, they are suddenly given the opportunity to walk and run with borrowed legs, and it provides them with a level of motivation rarely seen in a gym, clinic or classroom setting!


So yes, hippotherapy is “dangerous”, but children, regardless of their age, gender or ability, thrive on risk


“You can’t get to mastery without experiencing risk.”

~ Unknown 


“The more risks you allow children to take, the better they learn to take care of themselves.”

~ Roald Dahl

For indoor occupational therapy, we see children from birth to 10 years old.


For hippotherapy, we see children from 2 years old to 10 years old. 


For BRAIN UNLOCKED, we see children from age 4 and up, and adults of any age.

Yes! Hippotherapy is still occupational therapy, just on a horse! However, there usually are co-payments with hippotherapy as it is a more expensive therapeutic technique.

Please get in touch, we’d love to answer them!


You can contact us on 064 5353 464, or on info@bigstridesot.co.za