Penny Townsend:
Bex's Story
Penny Townsend:
From Upright for the First Time to Advanced Training
Bex is 31 years old and has athetoid cerebral palsy, a condition that affects her whole body and causes significant spasticity along with periods of involuntary, writhing-type movements.
Although she is nonverbal, Bex understands instructions clearly and communicates through deliberate head movements for yes and no. She also uses her head to operate a communication device, although the limited control she has makes this extremely tiring. All transfers require hoisting, and she uses a moulded powered wheelchair that is driven by her team of carers.
Bex works closely with her physiotherapist, Penny Townsend, who has supported her progress over several years. In Bex’s earlier case story, it was highlighted that after “two decades without being able to stand upright”, Bex achieved vertical mobility for the first time through the Guldmann Trainer Module. Penny guided her through exercises that included bridging to strengthen her core, sitting supported on a gym ball, and gradually transitioning into an upright position with dynamic weight relief assisting her movements. The Trainer Module redefined what was possible for Bex, enabling a focus on head control, muscle strength and posture as she reached mobility milestones previously out of reach.
Since that earlier stage of her rehabilitation journey, Bex has continued to make remarkable progress. She now uses the Trainer Module regularly to develop her sitting posture and head control, both of which have improved over the past couple of years. Her physical capacity has increased, and she is currently performing hip thrusts with 28kg offset on the Trainer Module, along with sit-to-stand exercises at 35 kg.
A year ago, Bex required someone to physically lift and place her feet for every step she attempted. Now she can take steps independently in using the Trainer Module. While these steps are not functional weight-bearing, they provide an intense cardiovascular challenge that leaves her sweaty, breathless, and satisfyingly fatigued.
For Bex, the goal is not walking but exercising at a meaningful intensity. She enjoys working hard and wants to feel worn out by the end of each session, knowing that the physical exertion reliably helps her sleep better. Although she fatigues quickly, she consistently pushes herself and benefits physically and emotionally from the structure and challenge of the sessions.
The ceiling hoist remains essential in helping her manage her head control, improve strength, and regulate her energy. This progress builds directly on the foundation described in her earlier case story, where dynamic weight relief first allowed her to experience upright positioning and develop the strength that now supports more advanced work.
Away from therapy, Bex loves going on holiday and especially enjoys warm weather, spending time in the sun, and travelling brings her joy.
Bex trains at Simply Moving and Sleeping, an adaptable rehabilitation space designed to support functional practice and safe mobility work.
About Penny Townsend
Penny Townsend is a specialist neurodevelopmental physiotherapist and moving and handling consultant, providing children’s physiotherapy, complex‑needs handling support, and workplace/occupational assessments.
She is highly experienced in supporting children and young adults with learning disabilities, conducting sling assessments, and delivering safe-handling training across Kirklees schools.
Her background includes advanced moving and handling qualifications, extensive clinical practice, and recognised professional expertise, demonstrated through her consultancy work, training events, and hands‑on therapeutic sessions.
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