Overcoming Low Muscle Tone: Gear

This post is third in the series Overcoming Low Muscle Tone. To read the previous post in the series,  "Toys", please click here. To read the first post, in the series, "Activities", please click here.

GEAR:

a) Ankle/Foot Orthotics (AFOs)

One thing that helped Patrick to stand and walk were his braces. I was told by the Physical Therapist that Patrick needed ankle support, because his feet pronate quite significantly. She said this was common in low muscle tone children, and recommended me to take him to Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics, to get his measurements. When I called to make the appointment, I was told that a prescription by his Pediatrician was needed beforehand.

That was because they don't necessarily diagnose, rather they just take measurements and order the product. Their expertise helps them decide which type of AFO will be best for your child. The price you pay for the braces includes the appointments needed (measurements, pick-up and any follow-ups) so all these office visits are free of charge. The person who sees Patrick there told us that after using the braces for a little while, we would start seeing significant improvement in Patrick, and he would be walking in no time. He was right!

They suggested that Patrick used the SureStep brand, and while all the information is on the website, let me tell you our personal experience. I'm happy with the product. Patrick didn't mind using them at all, and they seem comfortable. Definitely provided the support he was needing. For some reason I thought the braces would help to correct the problem, but later I was told that mostly they provide support (his body is definitely more stable when he is wearing them.) I think my only complaint is that the straps on his second pair ripped... for something that's billed so high to our insurance (2k+) you would think the straps would be made of a better material.

The first pair of AFOs lasted about 6 months until he outgrew them. He is now on his second pair since the beginning of February. He had to wear the first pair almost all the time, but he isn't required to wear it as much now. I was under the impression that he would need to use the braces for a number of years, but surprisingly we have been told that this may be his last pair. As his muscles get stronger, his ankles should get better, but the problem won't disappear completely. It isn't so bad, considering that there are many people, including athletes that have pronation but are able to perform physical activity just fine.

b) Shorts (Hip Helpers)

One thing that got Patrick started on the crawling were this shorts. They were suggested to me by his physical therapist. This shorts help kids force kids to crawl, or at least, prevent them from scooting, which was Patrick's favorite way to move around, as you could see in the video I showed on the first post on the series.

On the Hip Helpers website you will find that the shorts are also a good aid for children that like to sit with their legs wide open or in W position. Patrick used them briefly, but I think it was worth buying them... he really couldn't scoot the way he wanted, so he had to figure out other ways! It's too bad I actually don't have pictures/videos of him wearing them so you could see, and right now they are too small for him. I hope you can get a good enough idea on what they are like on their website!

c) Chewy Tubes

Also, per suggestion of Patrick's therapist, we bought him a chewy tube, more specifically, a "P" chewy tube. That's the website that was suggested to us, but I believe I found it cheaper (or at least with free shipping!) on Amazon, so you can check there too.

Chewy tubes are great alternatives for little ones who need to practice their biting and chewing skills. Patrick had low muscle tone in his mouth -it was difficult for him to chew food that wasn't soft. Also, he liked (still does to some extent) putting everything in his mouth, more so than the reasonable stage that every baby goes through when exploring new surfaces. The chewy tube is hard, and has some scent/flavor that makes it more attractive to the child, giving the sensory input needed to aid in the mouthing.

I have to say, though, Patrick wasn't a fan of the chewy tube. His jaw eventually got stronger, mostly by the fact that we kept introducing progressively food that wasn't too soft, and by the fact that he likes mouthing so much to the point that anything would go to his mouth, including blocks and other hard things. If you do try it, I hope you get better luck with this product!