Thera suit is a bio-mechanical suit used to increase feedback to the brain and enhance purposeful movement. The thera suit is comprised of hat,vest,knee pads along with custom made shoes worn by the child or adult having cerebral palsy.
The suit comprises of multiple adjustable rings and elastic band on the garment that can be adjusted to provide pressure and support the affected muscles and joints.The bungee cords are are placed at specific points and the whole suit will act as an exoskeleton for the child by keeping the body in proper anatomical alignment thereby helping in normalizing the muscle tone and preventing the risk for developing limb deformities.
Wearing the suit during exercise program will help in reducing the effects of spasticity,athetosis,hypertonia,hypotonia and ataxia. The suit provides proprioceptive input thereby helping a child to build strength for performing various activities.
Other benefits of therasuit are as followed:
1. retrains central nervous system
2. Restores ontogenic development
3. provides external stabilization
4. normalize muscle tone
5. provide dynamic correction
6. normalizes gait pattern
7. provides tactile stimulation
8. improves balance
9. improves coordination
10. support weak muscles
11. decreased uncontrolled movement in ataxia and athetosis
Cerebral Palsy is a group of disorders that affect a persons’ ability to move and maintain balance and posture.”Cerebral” refers to the brain and “palsy” refers to the muscle weakness and poor control.Cerebral Palsy or CP is an umbrella like term which describes a group of chronic disorders impairing control of movement in first few years of life which generally do no worsen over the time. These disorders are caused by faulty development or damage to motor areas of brain disrupting the brain’s ability to control posture and movement.
CP occurs in about 1 in 500 live births with only 60% of them having an identifiable cause.
Causes of CP:
The causes are braodly divided into 3 categories namely
1) Pre-natal
2) Peri-natal
3) Post-natal
along with other associated maternal risk factors like maternal toxemia,hypothyroidism, etc.
Classification of CP
CP is a disorder which can be classified according to the site, lesion and extent of the damaged it caused to the brain for example based on topographical distribution i.e. the parts of body affected it is divided into monoplegia,diplegia,hemiplegia,paraplegia,quadriplegia,and double hemiparesis.
Diagnosing CP
Based on the history taking,examination for growth and developmental milestones appropriate to child’s age, the results are interpreted.
Differential Diagnosis
It is also important to look out for other disorders which also coincides with presenting signs and symptoms similar to CP.
Clinical Manifestation
Child shows abnormal muscle tone,imbalance of agonist and antagonist, deficit in righting and equilibrium reactions,difficulty in sequencing,timing,and controlling muscle response.
Disorders associated with CP includes seizure disorder,visual and auditory problems, feeding difficulties,poor jaw control, speech disorders,and issues related with intelligence
Child also presents with limb and spinal deformities,torsions,subluxation of joints, scissoring gait pattern.
International Childhood Cancer Day 15 Feb 2015 has been observed to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families. The day promotes increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges impacting childhood cancer and the survivors. It also spotlights the need for more equitable and better access to treatment and care for all children with cancer. Cancers in children can be hard to recognize right away because early symptoms are often like those caused by much more common illnesses or injuries. The common Signs ans Symptoms to look out for:
An unusual lump or swelling
Unexplained paleness and loss of energy
Easy bruising
An ongoing pain in one area of the body
Limping
Unexplained fever or illness that doesn’t go away
Frequent headaches, often with vomiting
Sudden eye or vision changes
Sudden unexplained weight loss
The types of cancers that occur most often in children are different from those seen in adults. The most common cancers of children are:
leukemia
Brain and other CNS Tumors
Neuroblastoma
Lymphoma
Retinoblastoma
Bone cancer
Treatments are chosen for childhood cancers based mainly on the type and stage or extent of the cancer. Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other types of treatment. In many cases, more than one of these treatments is used. Occupational therapists have a vital role in rehabilitation of children having cancer. They focuses on improving patients’ strength, balance and endurance, as well as fine motor and cognitive skills, to restore their previous level of independence. To facilitate independence and a smooth transition back to the community and school, occupational therapists help patients focus on daily living skills like caring for themselves, brushing their teeth, and getting dressed.This may involve teaching new or adaptive techniques for methods of self-care, preparing and eating meals, functional mobility or to perform recreational activities.
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