Aids and equipment in the management of cerebral palsy

Empowered disability allows children with profound developmental disabilities to live full, meaningful lives with high-quality care and maximum independence.

Examples of empowered disability include wheelchairs, adaptive seating, crutches, walkers, and proper positioning and support.

Empowered disability provides children with profound developmental disabilities with increased independence and autonomy in daily life.

The improvement of empowered disability through access and empowerment:

Children with profound developmental disabilities may require assistance with mobility, communication, eating, and various sensory needs.

The range of possibilities for independence and empowerment with empowered disability is broader than ever, from everyday life to increased autonomy.

This type of disability empowerment, such as orthotics, walkers, and adaptive seating, can significantly improve mobility and participation in social, recreational, and sports activities.

These opportunities are often used in conjunction with physical therapy. A physical therapist teaches children with profound developmental disabilities how to use empowered disability. This can significantly enhance socialization (engagement in community life) and increase participation in recreational and sports activities.

Types of empowered disability:

There are many types of empowered disability, tools, and methods that provide children with profound developmental disabilities with greater independence and improved quality of life.

Empowered disability can help with everything from changing clothes to managing a car.

Here are some examples of empowered disability that can benefit children with profound developmental disabilities and adolescents:

Crutches

Crutches are an essential empowered disability opportunity for many people with profound developmental disabilities.

Crutches can come in various sizes and different handling modes.

For example, some crutches may have a "joystick" control, while others may be mechanically operated, which is controlled by the operator's foot. This opportunity allows children with profound developmental disabilities who have coordination difficulties to move freely.

For managing empowered disability, trained empowered disability opportunities and innovations occur daily. For example, crutches come in different sizes and handling modes:

Children who use crutches should often check the skin, i.e., inspect for bruises and other skin injuries for timely detection!

Rotating positions (changing) during crutch use is essential during the day to avoid strong pressure on certain parts of the body, especially bony places, where pressure sores are more common.

At this time, an occupational therapist can help you learn how to correctly use crutches from scratch.

When buying crutches, individual customization is essential, which is provided by a certified specialist in individual crutch adaptation.

Adaptive Seating

Joyful Cart ("Wheeler") is a significant opportunity for children with cerebral palsy. It is invaluable support for those children who can experience joy but need assistance for correct posture.

The Joyful Cart is prepared from lightweight aluminum. It usually has four wheels and adjustable height. Sometimes, Joyful Carts have canopies and baskets or trays for storing the child's belongings.

Orthoses

An orthosis is a device used to assist in the management of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal structural and functional abnormalities.

Orthoses may be used for the following purposes:

Control of a joint, limb, or segment of the body, either passively or dynamically; Protection/immobilization for specific purposes; Assistance with ambulation generally; Subsequent rehabilitation after immobilization; Improvement of ambulation, reduction of spasticity, and more.

Orthoses are assigned significant value in the management of cerebral palsy. In children with cerebral palsy, for example, orthoses help prevent contractures, which can disrupt balance and the mechanism of movement.

The combination of orthoses with physical therapy and other therapeutic interventions contributes to preventing the recurrence of these disturbances from the outset.

Children with cerebral palsy most commonly use ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs). In the absence of fixed contracts, orthoses improve kinetics and kinematics, step length, coordination, and function.

Orthoses and various types of prostheses (so-called braces) exist for the hips, knees, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, toes, elbows, shoulders, etc.

Braces can be prepared from leather, aluminum, plastic, or in combination.

An orthopedist and orthopedic technician can assist in the fitting of these braces. Improper fitting may cause discomfort, irritation, pressure sores, difficulty in movement, general discomfort, etc.

Orthopedic footwear

Given that cerebral palsy affects mobility and control of the limbs and feet, children with cerebral palsy often need assistance. Orthopedic footwear helps stabilize the feet and ankles for improved mobility.

Since children with cerebral palsy may not be able to use certain types of orthopedic devices due to the neurological damage they have, these devices can become sufficient as they grow older. Orthopedic footwear assists in strengthening weakened ankles. Indeed, this solution effectively supports various forms of cerebral palsy-related foot deformities.

Additional features of orthopedic footwear include:

Protection from pressure sores, abrasions, and injuries associated with movement and related conditions; Improvement of balance, gait, and posture; Reduction of falls; Correction of improper foot position and structure.

Apart from this, children with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities may benefit from such supportive equipment as:

Toilet seat risers; Bathtub seat risers; Adjustable elevators for the bed; Bath lifts; Modified and specially adapted vehicles for comfortable and safe transportation;