Neuro-developmental therapy (NDT) is a frame of reference invented by the Bobath family. It is used by occupational therapists to evaluate muscle tone and postural mechanisms. Treatment is directed to normalizing muscle tone through use of positioning and handling techniques, special movement patterns, and the facilitation of normal postural mechanisms through the use of weight shift patterns and weight-bearing techniques (Pedretti, 1996).

Occupational therapists at Community Therapy Services utilize NDT to facilitate optimal normal movement patterns and learning processes. This promotes optimal recovery and compensation techniques for individuals suffering from a variety of diagnoses. OTs use NDT to retrain the brain and facilitate more normal, natural, healthy movements. NDT is usually used by OTs who treat patients with some sort of motor or sensory loss secondary to hemiplegia. Clients with disorders needing NDT usually suffer from problems in posture, body alignment, balance, tone, strength, and/or coordination. These problems, if untreated, can cause orthopedic problems, pain, and decreased safety.