Garment offers help for autism and cerebral palsy

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Some physical and occupational therapists are finding that a special garment, originally designed to help support children with cerebral palsy, is helping kids with other disorders achieve the same effect as swaddling. The garment gives them a soothing feeling of comfort.

"They act like little muscle supports and little postural assists. The child gets to live in the changes I know I can get in therapy, but that I have never been able to make stick. You really need practice," says Beverly Cusick, physical therapist, TheraTogs inventor

Physical therapist Beverly Cusick invented the garments called 'TheraTogs'.

"If you turn your shoulder this way and you want to raise your arm, you'll raise your arm, you'll just use all the wrong muscles. So kids with movement disorders do that, purpose prevails over the way they use their bodies. They'll recruit whatever they got to get to where they're going. So with TheraTogs, we can say, 'okay go, but do it with a better body.'"

Two and a half year old Emily has autism. Her occupational therapist had used TheraTogs in children with cerebral palsy, but after trying them on herself, she decided Emily might benefit as well.

"It kind of was the effect of swaddling an infant. It gives that calming soothing sensation that I thought, if that works, we need to try it."

Emily's mother Linda says her daughter seemed better able to concentrate and focus and it was something her speech therapist picked up on.

"She said that Emily wasn't rocking back and forth anymore. That was the first time she had seen her with the TheraTogs."

No clinical research has been conducted on TheraTogs, although there have been smaller studies measuring changes in the way children walk while wearing the garments. Cusick welcomes research, and in the meantime, enjoys the changes she sees in clients.

"I feel really effective as a clinician now. I feel I can definitely change kids lives and adults lives."

Occupational therapist Tina Blythe has seen marked changes in Emily.

"I think it helps her to refocus because it calms her sensory system down in a way that takes her out of that fight or flight mode."

Linda is convinced the garment has made a difference for her daughter. She's still experimenting with how often Emily wears it. When Emily does not wear the garment, her therapists notice a sharp decline in her physical abilities,

Linda doesn't see the garment as a cure, but she does believe it's allowed her daughter to get much more out of therapy than ever before.

"Because she was feeling secure in her TheraTogs, her second skin, the door opened this much and she could just focus, and grab everything and see how things worked."

For the Garite family, the comfort Emily seems to get from TheraTogs is a comfort to them as well.

TheraTogs cost between $400 and $600 dollars. Some insurance plans cover them. Clinics that recommend TheraTogs have samples patients can try out before.

Extra Info: Website: www.TheraTogs.com

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i will get back with my comments after i get some more thought into this... my brain kind of explodes when i get news on sensory integration therapies and this kind of stuff since i have major sensory problems and the fact my parents dont understand my problems... i think im going to go call my counselor for an on demand appointment and see if she could help me communicate with my parents and give them a better understanding of my sensory issues... possibly the goal in that would be for my parents to take me back to a different OT for a full re-evaluation as my PDD-NOS has worsened greatly in the last year with the disease i have.

i really hope this gets covered bye insurance it looks like it has lots of potential to help

thread crosslink...

i tend to like to crosslink my threads when two threads come into extremely close relation...

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt50193.html

the thread above discusses peoples favorite sensations and such other sensory related things...

It sounds good, but I'm not sure it should be universally covered just yet. They obviously can't cover everything that comes along.

I think some clinical trials need to be done, and I definitely support it if the results are favorable.

the potential with this is absolutely huge... and in fact it would help me in multiple ways. my spinal conditions could be helped in realignment and i would overall not be as agitated a person all the time with the sensory benefits... heck maybe they can even help preserve what little strength i have left in my arms... my legs are shot though...

Like my powerchair is justified at http://www.alinssite.info/Alin/The_Powerchair.html i decided to type up a justification for Theratogs... i will first talk with my counselor without my parents and me and her review this justification paper and then she might take it and communicate to the parents using it or she might just hand it back and say "just hand it to them and let them see for themselves"

Statement of Medical Necessity and Equipment Justification
Self Assesment

Date of assessment: 12/13/07
Patient's name: Alin
D.O.B.: NOT INCLUDED FOR SECURITY
Medical diagnosis's: neuromuscular degenerative disease NOS, PDD-NOS, sensory integration/processing disabilities, Scheuermann's kyphosis, scoliosis, hypotonic arms/trunk/neck, hypertonic legs, spastic legs,

Medical Considerations/History
Alin was diagnosed PDD-NOS with sensory integration/processing disorder at 7 years of age by Dr. Nishawn Shaw at the Yacktman Pavilion.

Alin is currently medically unstable in many ways, sensory integration disorders due to the neurodegenerative disease have worsened as neurological pathways have been destroyed and muscle tissue has been destroyed. put into perspective he has many physiopathologic abnormalities especially muscularly and along his spinal disc formation.

Alin's primary means of mobility is through a custom made TDX-SP powerchair that has several specialized systems for positioning. Hence no goals to increase self ambulation by means of walking will be required.

Motor Observation

Reflexes and Abnormal Muscle Tone:
Alin exhibits low tone in his arms, trunk, and neck. The low tone of the trunk compromises positioning and posture when not supported correctly. Hypertonia of the legs creates unprovoked constant muscle pain and other symptoms. When excited muscle tone may increase but usually drops back to original state before movement occurs unless there is a bad sensory integration disorder effect by the situation, in that case muscle tone can steadily increase to points of causing contractures and long term hypertonicity. He also exhibits severe hyperreflexia in his legs which is attributed to the disease and possibly sensory integration disorder. He also exhibits other abnormal reflexology and muscle tone.

Range of Motion/Motor Strength:
Alins control of active range is variably limited depending on factors like fatigue and neurological condition that day and other factors. Manual muscle testing cannot be adequately performed on any individual with hypotonicity or hypertonicity; an observational evaluation indicates that Alin has severely low muscle strength and stamina. Power and coordination are variably below normal. upper extremity motor control appears to be ok although strength and power are severely limited and currently progressively worsening due to neuromuscular destruction.

Voluntary, Isolated, Controlled Movements:
Alin has impaired movement across the board, voluntary movement, isolated movement, and controlled movements are variably impaired, depending on factors like fatigue and neurological condition that day and other factors.

Posture:
Alin exhibits severe postural problems, problems are due to his neurological/sensory integration/processing disorder condition creating inability to manage/sense own posture without assistance in positioning along with physiomuscular problems (hypotonia). He has a severe progressive kyphosis with moderate progressive scoliosis, when seated his back automatically curves unless properly supported, his back does not exhibit as severe an automatic curve when sitting in a tilted state, as the angle of tilt increases the curve decreases. His head also has severe support issues due to hypotonia of his neck muscles, his neck muscles get tired very quickly, as of right now he uses his arm to hold up his head when his neck is fatigued.

Sensory-Motor Patterns and Processing:
Alin has major sensory integration/processing problems. he is extremely hypersensitive to light touch especially when it is unexpected. for example if someone is to come and tap him on the neck without knowing he will jump.

Commonly with autistics there are certain stims with autistics that can cause a detrimental effect upon themselves and peers, Alin has very obvious and notable stims. He has since the age of 4 has had a very noticable rocking motion when sitting anywhere, this has been noted that if someone is hugging him that all motion ceases. He has a second stim that appears to have suddenly shown up in the last year which the worsening of the sensory integration disorder could possibly be attributed to the neurodegenerative disease possibly destroying neurocognitive sector neurons, this second stim usually involves chewing something, some of the things he will commonly chew on are cellular phone antenna's, headphone wires and other assorted cables i.e camera USB cable.

Alin is hyposensitive to deep pressure touch and like most autistic/PDD-NOS patients becomes very calmed with deep pressure, this is extremely noticable especially when someone hugs him, he will "cling" and not want to let go, this "clingyness" has a detrimental effect upon peers and certain family members by making them feel insecure.

Specific Recommendation's
Our main diagnostic criteria and our main reason for seeking therapy is Alin's sensory integration/processing disorder which creates major detrimental effects upon himself, his parents, and anyone around him. He is curently severely limited by his sensory integration disorder as he cannot tolerate crowded environment (i.e mall, restaurants, stores) for more than a short period of time.
It is noted that alin has very "clingy" characteristics when someone hugs him, he will refuse to let go, this makes his family and relatives uncomfortable but as of right now is his only way of receiving sensory comfort, Theratogs could provide him with sensory comfort and at the same time help his other secondary diagnostic criteria as listed below.

Alin has severe hypotonia in his upper extremities, he has severely limited force in his arms
Left arm grasp is limited to approx 5 lbs
Right arm grasp is limited to approx 5 lbs
Left arm lifting capacity approx 2.5 lbs
Alin's upper extremity lifting and grasp capacities could either be preserved or improved through use of properly configured Theratogs.

Alin has severe postural mal-alignment due to flexible joint deviations, he has severe kyphotic curves that appear to be semi-flexible with a portion of non flexible deformity, Alin also has a semi-flexible scoliosis, both appear to be originating from muscle atrophy due to the neurodegenerative disease.

Alin's legs are severely affected by hypertonia which creates pain that is muscular in origin, Theratogs could help by applying gentle forces to the muscles to change their muscular composition and adjust the tone thus lowering pain levels.

Alin has severe shoulder joint laxity in both shoulders, his shoulder joints are highly sensitive and certain motion across lateral vectors cause intermittant dislocation that will cause the motion to cease and force him to have to force it to pop back into socket, this process is very painful.

Primary Uses of Theratogs equipment
If Alin receives Theratogs equipment it will be used for all of the above diagnostic criteria and improve his overall physiological state.

Great potential I see with the TheraTogs, but they would have to be comfortable, allot of us aspies find extra things likes these very intrusive, like jewelery, piercings, shoes and clothes
Sometimes I wish that I could take all my clothes off and walk around naked, but I can't do that!
But there is great potential here, since lots of people have motor skill difficulties, autistic or not

oddly enough i am PDD-NOS and i have no problem with most of those things, i would never get piercings dont like shoes much either... but clothing as long as its soft i like... i dont like anything like jeans or any of that though... my favorite material in the world is neoprene...

hopefully i will be able to get my parents to understand my sensory issues, as you can see above i also combined my physical issues into the justification and im going to try to talk to my counselor and have her speak to my parents and maybe we can get some help in this way for me...

If it does get done for me i will tell you all how it feels

sounds awesome!! i hope you're able to get one!! i know i'd like one. it really should be covered by insurance. not that i could get one, anyways, as i don't have any health insurance.. but i think it would really help with my posture.. not to mention, it would be really comforting..

i seriously hope i get one too... this would really help me in a lot of ways, especially in spinal column support due to the muscles around my spine becoming very weak, could also be helpful in support for my shoulder joint laxity on lateral vectors... ahh so many posibilities... i love therapy systems that are extremely versatile and have millions of uses...

I am hoping i can by using that self justification and my counselor convince my parents to make an OT appointment so we can get me evaluated for this type of therapy, constant therapy systems are the most effective when dealing with a constantly advancing condition as intermittent therapy cannot create a constant support system, constant support is the only way therapy can be effective in higher end cases (cerebral palsy, degenerative disease)

Nicky, one of my dreams is to create a national organization in the united states that would provide sensory therapies to people like you. so far the organizations that DO provide funding for therapies like this and similar are very stringent on who they will fund and also are usually fairly limited in capacity... my goal is to create an organization large enough to absorb costs efficiently while allowing just about anyone who can get a positive benefit from sensory based therapies full funding.

I am not one of the weirdos who say "no therapy for you if there is no doctor prescription" my theory is that we evaluate every single person that walks into the office, run them through the trial, and if we see any positive improvement immediately initiate funding procedures.

When i reach my goal after college of becoming certified as RTS (rehab technology specialist)/ATS (assistive technology specialist)/OT i plan on opening a center within the chicago area that would specialize mainly in powerchairs and augmentative alternative communication devices, the difference in my center would be that anyone who walks in and says that they want a powerchair evaluation or AAC evaluation will get an evaluation, doctor referral or not, they will receive an evaluation and if after putting them through trials i see some sort of positive change they will be prescribed equipment that fits their needs. the difference here in my center will be that i will more specialize in autistics who have secondary physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, as when they are getting a powerchair i will also be paying close attention to integration of therapeutic sensory inputs (TSI's) in their powerchair, i know a few of my friends who have autism and cerebral palsy and i know that they spend more than 16 hours in their powerchair per day, so by integration of TSI's in their powerchairs we could create a continuous therapy system similar, and in certain cases Theratogs + TSI integrated powerchair would be a great idea for patients who have more complex conditions that require direct contact constant support therapies, cases like mine require direct contact constant support therapies, intermittent therapies are worthless, my center would NOT do ANY intermittent therapy visits which would allow for the entire center to be devoted to evaluation and long term constant therapy systems and maintenance of those systems. this would mean that patients would only need to come in every year for a re-evaluation or more frequently if it is a progressive condition.

By opening this type of therapy center i am expecting to innovate and change the way people look at TSI therapy, people look at TSI therapy currently and stigmatize it as "not necessary" i look at it as a major medical necessity as when someone has sensory issues that are causing problems those problems can easily become physical problems... like nicky you explained your posture sucks, i can already tell you why. you receive no TSI therapy where it is needed.

yeah, i set my goals pretty high, lets see if i can hold up and carry through!

wow, that sounds really awesome!! looks like you have it all planned out pretty well!! that definately sounds like a worth-while business opportunity! i absolutely agree about sensory things becoming physical things.. i think bad posture is a common trait on the autism spectrum, so it makes sense. it's just that, lately, i've been having more problems with back pain than ever, and my knees are also starting to bother me.. so is my right wrist and foot, and my neck has this one place that's always out of alignment, and gives me headaches sometimes. i believe all of this is tied together because of my bad posture, which causes things to go out of alignment, and with something like the skeleton, it kinda has a domino effect. that's why i think the TheraTogs would help with that.. cause they would help keep things in alignment by creating a constant pressure that would help my muscles do their job, and remind me to sit up straighter. i think having sensory things built into a power chair is a genius idea!! therapy and mobility all rolled into one!! i bet it would be really popular!! i wish you luck in your venture!!

Here are some more comments from me

I don't think you are paying for the materials, so insurance wouldn't be needed, it's the time it takes to study what parts of the body could use support, and how to go about it, what I would see more appropriate is government funding toward this sort of thing (of course you can't change do much about making the quality of the material cheaper but it will help)



These sort of things have been around for a while, and they do the job with great success IMO
There are many athletes that wear these things, and they are great for exercising with too, because it doesn't put strain on the spinal cord and reduces the chances of RSI



and sometimes its a really hot day, your body has sweat all over it and the last thing you want to do is put straps on that stick to your skin!

Its good that this kind of thing is finding its way from the atheletic market and into the therapy market, i think it will become a much bigger thing within the therapy market.

oddly enough id probably like that sticky feeling on a hot day, it would be like a sticky warm hug

so i dunno... but the first thing id gladly do is put straps on that stick to my skin on a hot day

and in my business i would not be using profit as my main goal... in this type of business my main goal would be to touch the lives and change them of many people. sensory problems can very easily cause physical issues and quite commonly do cause issues, ever heard that scoliosis and kyphosis incidence rates are higher in ASD induviduals due to the sensory issues. by introducing a direct contact constant support system autistics can have their sensory issues be helped and on top of that the system can compensate for the "autie gait". i have always thought about merging sensory therapies and powerchairs since i know so many autistics who have mobility issues and are in powerchairs...

it's a noble persuit.. i commend you for that. well, that's usually how inventions come to be... a person sees a need not being filled and figures out a way to fill it.... takes a brilliant and creative mind to do that. plus, it seems all the NT's are about "curing" ASD people, as in making them as NT as possible, instead of actually HELPING them as they are. to make the greatest improvements, it really takes someone who understands what it's like. and i think people will be more open to going to you knowing you understand.

so im guessing your.....for it