Blog Layout

Types of Equipment & FAQs

September 29, 2022

Types of Equipment & FAQs

Types of Equipment & FAQs

Adaptive Beds:

  • What is an adaptive bed? 
  • Adaptive beds come in many shapes and sizes and can range from a full enclosure option with sides and a top to prevent kids from climbing out of the bed in the middle of the night and injuring themselves to a bed option that can elevate the head or foot of the bed for improved postural positioning. They also have mattress options that can be used with a traditional bed frame but can be customized to add increased support.
  • Who would benefit from this?
  • Beds are commonly ordered for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other conditions that are closely linked with kids having decreased safety awareness. They are also ordered for kids who have complex positioning needs such as kids who need to have their head elevated at nighttime for overnight feedings through a g-tube.

Activity Chairs:

  • What is an activity chair?
  • Activity chairs are an alternative seating option that can be used for better positioning during feeding and table activities.
  • Who would benefit from this?
  • Activity chairs are commonly ordered for kids who have a hard time sitting on their own or who may be able to sit on their own but have a hard time picking up their head or lifting their arms in this positions. This could lead to difficulty with playing and eating while sitting because they have to use so much energy to keep their body upright and don’t have the extra energy to reach and play.

Adaptive Car Seats:

  • What is an adaptive car seat?
  • Adaptive car seats are similar to a traditional car seat but they provide increased postural support and can be purchased in larger sizes.
  • Who would benefit from this?
  • Adaptive car seats are a good option if your child has outgrown the maximum size for a traditional car seat but continues to require the extra support from a car seat due to having difficulty sitting upright. They are also an option for kids who have very specific positioning needs that can’t be met with a traditional car seat, such as needing extra head or trunk support.

Adaptive Strollers: 

  • What is an adaptive stroller?
  • An adaptive stroller is similar to a traditional stroller but can be modified to add extra support for better alignment for kids with difficulty maintaining good posture. They can also come in a greater variety of sizes and can be used for kids for a larger variety of sizes and ages.
  • Who would benefit from this?
  • Adaptive strollers are commonly ordered for kids who need extra postural support to keep them upright in sitting. We also order them for older kids who are walking but get tired easily and need a little help to walk longer distances or who are unsafe in busy environments (malls, parking lots, etc) and will run away from parents and caregivers.

Bathing/Toileting Systems:

  • What is this for?
  • These systems come in all shapes and sizes from a small, portable chair that can sit in the bottom of the tub or mount onto the toilet, to a large system on wheels that can allow someone to be rolled into the bathroom and positioned over the toilet or in the shower.
  • Who would benefit from this?
  • These systems are great for anyone who needs a little extra help with positioning during bathing and using the bathroom. They are often used for small kids who have a hard time sitting on their own and may fall over in the tub, kids who need to be up higher off the ground so family and caregivers can bathe them, or adults who just need a little help with positioning so they can be more independent with self hygiene.

Gait Trainers:

  • What is a gait trainer?
  • Gait trainers are similar to walkers that you may see an older person use but are designed for younger kids or adults who need more support than they could get from a traditional walker. Gait trainers come in all shapes and sizes from a tiny version of a walker to a product that can provide body weight support and be customized to the patient’s needs.
  • Who would benefit from this?
  • Gait trainers are great for anyone who needs help standing but will move their legs and attempt to step when supported. These are commonly used for kids who have decreased balance or conditions that impact their ability to use their legs.

Standers:

  • What is a stander?
  • Standers are a piece of equipment that can be used to support someone in standing.
  • Who would benefit from this?
  • Standers are ordered for people who are unable to stand on their own or who get tired very quickly with standing so they only stand for a short amount of time. It’s important for anyone over the age of 2 to be standing at least 1 hour/day for bone health, hip alignment, and digestion. Standers can be used for people who are unable to meet this minimum requirement on their own.


How does scheduling work?

  • If you are a current patient at PMC, talk to your therapist and ask if equipment maybe right for them.
  • If you are not a current patient at PMC, you are still able to get equipment with us! Just call the office and ask to speak with Stephanie, our amazing equipment scheduler.

Does insurance cover it? What does the process look like?

  • Here at PMC, our physical therapists work with equipment vendors to stay up to date on all the latest equipment that is released and ways to get it approved. The process starts with a thorough evaluation with the family, physical therapist, and assistive technology professional from an equipment vendor to analyze the client and family’s needs and discuss possible options that would be a good fit. Once a piece of equipment is decided upon, PMC and the equipment company work together to submit all necessary information to the insurance company to justify that the equipment is medically necessary and to try to get it approved. In the rare instance that your insurance company will not cover the equipment, we will also work with you to find other options to get you and your family the equipment you need.

How is this different from something we can get from the store?

  • This type of equipment is more personalized than something you could buy from the store. It is specifically designed for the client and their needs and is custom made for them. It can also accommodate a greater range in heights and weights and is designed to grow with the client for long term use. They also provide greater postural support for clients who need a little bit more help to maintain different positions.


Shout out to one of PMC's amazing Physical Therapist, Nature, for sharing this valuable information and answering so many frequently asked questions for us!


Get Crafty with Christmas Food

November 14, 2024
Get Crafty with Christmas Food Tis the season to enjoy all the wonderment of the holiday! While the kids are off of school, you may be looking for projects for them. We always like to play with our food here at PMC. Check out the following list of easy-to-do activities that involve food and fun!

The Developmental Benefits of Tumbling Classes

November 13, 2024
The Developmental Benefits of Tumbling Classes Here at the Pediatric Movement Center, our recreational classes are fun, social movement opportunities for children of all ages to play in a safe and secure space. But tumbling and gymnastics classes offer so many benefits, both physical and mental, for young children. Whether you are looking at our Ninja classes or Adaptive Gymnastics, you can be assured that our approach to recreation is developmentally beneficial for all individuals. Here are 5 benefits of gymnastics and tumbling classes: Physical Fitness Physical benefits of tumbling and gymnastics include flexibility, core strength, cardiovascular health and stamina, join health, and disease prevention. Jumping, balance, leg lifts and triple flexion (ankle, knee and hip) are just a few movements that are beneficial. Tumbling and gymnastics also includes a variety of poses that are helpful for strength and flexibility, such as lunges , bicycle, butterfly stretch, and forward rolls. 2. Cognitive Development Tumbling and gymnastics can improve focus, decision making and problem solving, as well as self-discipline and mental toughness. Gymnastic routines often are similar to memorizing dance sequences, where the individual has to memorize a series of movements in a certain order and on a particular timeline. Coordination of different poses that require full body strength (such as cartwheels or forward rolls) also require particular focus and mind-body connection. 3. Social Skills One of the best things about childrens' movement classes is the social aspect. Our recreational classes are a space for children to have fun and play with other kids. Our classes are inclusive, allowing children of different sensory and behavioral needs to be part of the group, and enabling children of different physical abilities to engage with other children. Waiting for your turn on the balance beam or celebrating a friends' success when they do a handstand for the first time are just a few social benefits of tumbling classes. 4. Confidence Self-discipline and mental toughness can play an important role in self-confidence. Our play-based classes are led by instructors devoted to supporting students through positive reinforcement. When children are given the space to try new or challenging physical activity, their confidence often increases through their success in trying something that they couldn't accomplish before. 5. Injury Prevention Just like many NFL players engage in ballet or pilates to cross-train during the off-season, so too can student athletes and kids playing multiple sports use tumbling and gymnastics as a great way to benefit other sports activities. Stretching, full body strengthening balance and coordination techniques are just a few benefits of tumbling classes that will also benefit kids engaging in other sports. Interested in learning more about our recreational classes? Check out our current class schedule for more information!

What is Feeding Therapy?

November 13, 2024
What is Feeding Therapy?

What is Apraxia?

November 11, 2024
What is Apraxia? Apraxia is a motor speech disorder. Childhood apraxia of speech is a rare, but lifelong disorder that makes it difficult for individuals to move their mouth muscles in order to speak. The important thing to note about Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is that the child knows what they want to say, but may struggle with connecting the brain to the muscles that must accompany speech. Unlike other forms of childhood speech problems, CAS is not a disorder that can be outgrown. Children with CAS must receive treatment in order to make any progress with speech. Signs of CAS in children older than 3 years old include: - not pronouncing words the same way every time - putting the stress on the wrong syllable or word in a sentence or sequence of words - distortions in sounds - ease with shorter words and struggle with longer words Speech therapy for CAS focuses on strengthening the muscle groups required to speak - included facial and oral structures. This part of speech language therapy is referred to as speech motor planning and programming . SLP's will focus on techniques and activities that strengthen the lips, tongue, soft palate, jaw and vocal folds - to help the child learn when to activate and move each at the right time and in the right order, so that words are pronounced and produced accurately. Children with CAS may also struggle with fine motor skills, delayed language, and problems with reading, spelling and writing. If you have questions about CAS and want to learn more about what speech therapy services we can provide at PMC, please reach out today.

Types of Sensory Swings

November 11, 2024
Types of Sensory Swings Did you know that swinging can have a major impact on a child's vestibular system? The vestibular system is a sensory system in the inner ear that helps with balance and spatial orientation. Sensory swings, which come in many forms, are a great way to work on the vestibular system. Balancing the vestibular system can have a multitude of benefits beyond the physical - it can be a great way to practice body awareness and regulate the nervous system. Here is a quick guide to different types of sensory swings that may be utilized in pediatric therapy. 1. Bolster Swing

Why Teach Self-Regulation?

November 7, 2024
Why Teach Self-Regulation? When a toddler throws a tantrum, their reaction is usually developmentally normal for their age. Most little kids are still learning how to navigate big emotions. Most three year olds have not mastered self-regulation; the ability to control one's emotions and respond rationally to stressful or stimulating situations. But learning self-regulation can be complicated. There are many factors that impact our ability to self-regulate. Neurodevelopment, trauma and sensory differences are just a few factors in an individual's ability to self-regulate. Research shows that learning self-regulation can be life-changing for children and young adults, especially individuals who have experienced trauma. Learning emotional regulation can have a powerful impact on a person's wellbeing, So when do we learn how to navigate difficult thoughts and feelings? And how? When it comes to children and adolescents, research demonstrates that sensory-based occupational therapy may be an effective intervention to increase self-regulation. Occupational therapists are training to help individuals increase body awareness , and cope in a healthy way with stressful or demanding situations or circumstances. Children and individuals who struggle with self-regulation may express the following things: - overreactions to situations - emotional outburts - long-term negative emotions - mood swings and unpredictable moods The key to self-regulation is something called Inhibition. Inhibition is the ability to interrupt, adjust, stop or change thoughts or feelings or actions. For example, if you are sitting in traffic and start to grow frustrated, before you start shouting or getting angry about being stuck in that situation, inhibition would allow you to take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you cannot control the traffic, and that even though it is frustrating, you will be home soon. Being able to regulate emotions in this way has been proven to have a positive effect on a person's wellbeing, and can be integral to the health of children and young adults who are still learning how to deal with difficult emotions. A recent study demonstrated that adolescents who were engaging in self-regulatory behavior, reported greater wellbeing than their peers, including increased general life satisfaction and perceived social support. One way that occupational therapy can assist with learning self-regulation is through sensory input. Sensory input can include play-based activities , such as games or blowing bubbles, that help the individual navigate big emotions. Other activities that may be utilized for self-regulation in occupational therapy included music, stretching, guided imagery, colored lights, breathing exercises or large muscle activities. Occupational therapists are able to assess how certain factors may be impacting an individual on a daily basis, and implement interventions that help the person feel more balanced emotionally as they navigate day to day life.
Show More
Share by: