A Weighted Vest Can Help!!

By: Kevin Cleary

Every child on the autism spectrum is unique and so is the therapy targeted for their specific trigger. Many children diagnosed with autism have a hard time calming themselves down or concentrating on certain tasks. Therapy designed to calm these children or help them focus can sometimes benefit from the use of weighted therapy. This type of therapy can also be called deep-touch therapy. Understanding how weighted therapy influences the vestibular system in children is important to designing your child’s therapy. Below is a video with a great overview of how weighted vest therapy may be implemented.

Understanding the Magic

So exactly how does a weighted vest therapy program work? The main idea of using weighted or deep pressure input revolves around our proprioceptive system. This is the system that our bodies use to determine our sense of position relative to the space around us. Basically, this means where we are in reference to the world around us. An autistic child who has difficulty calming themselves may be looking for a way to calm their overactive nervous system. It’s this weighted sensation that can provide the appropriate proprioceptive input to calm and relieve any anxiety that the child may be experiencing. Typically, a weighted vest should be approximately 10% of the user’s body weight and can increase on-task behavior anywhere from 18% to 25%. It’s important to note that a weighted vest may not work for everyone and may even be used in conjunction with some other type of therapy strategy. As a calming tool, these vests can be incorporated in a classroom environment as an intervention that does not disrupt other children.

There are many techniques to achieve success during this type of therapy. Whether it’s active therapy that includes hugging or using beanbags or exercise balls to gently apply pressure, the benefits can be dramatic. When weighted therapy is applied, the body can release the hormone dopamine which helps calm the nervous system. Children who suffer from SID or ADHD can benefit from a weighted vest in order to calm them. These vests are worn for approximately one hour at a time and then removed. You can reapply the vest at regular intervals or when needed. Extended usage is discouraged since this allows the body to become accustomed to the proprioceptive input, therefore negating the benefits of this weighted therapy.

Tumble Form weighted Blanket

Tumble Forms 2 Weighted Vests

Since children come in all sizes, Tumble Forms offers weighted vests that are available in different sizes and as your child gets older (and larger) offers additional pockets so you can add weights to it. This allows you to customize your child’s weighted therapy as well as making their favorite vest available to them as they grow. From an extra small vest with four pockets to an extra-large vest with eight pockets, these easily secured vests can be adapted to just about any size child. Each vest comes with four ½ pound weights, four 1 pound weights, and four 2 pound weights. These weights are made of lead-free steel shot evenly distributed in a nylon sewn casting. Adjusting your vest to your child is simple since they incorporate Velcro fasteners so you can make the vest as snug as necessary. Additional weights for weightedvests are available in the same ½ lb., 1 lb., and 2 lb. options. This allows parents to add weight if necessary in order to calm autistic children with the proper deep pressure input necessary. You can work with your child’s therapist to dial in the proper added weight necessary to overcome their trigger. If the weighted vest works well for your child you can explore the possibility of a weighted kit. This includes a weighted vest, gel lap pad, a weighted animal, and a shawl for a change of pace and keeping your child’s interest.

Tumble Forms 2 Weighted Vest

Proprioceptive input can benefit children on the autism spectrum by calming their nervous system and allowing them to concentrate on tasks at hand. This calming can help with social events, homework, or even just enjoying family time. You should work with your child’s therapist to achieve the best therapy program for your child at therapy and in a home environment. Many therapy techniques, such as a weighted vest, can be used out in public to avoid or minimize embarrassing episodes.

Cold Therapy Systems

By Kevin Cleary

Pain management comes in many forms, but probably the most common technique used to deal with injuries and pain is cold therapy. Cold therapy or cryotherapy is used to treat acute injuries to your musculoskeletal system. Anyone who has experienced a sprained ankle or wrist has heard the phrase “put some ice on it.” Applying cold or ice therapy to an acute injury can help shorten recovery time and potentially minimize pain. The hard part can be applying ice or cold therapy in an efficient manner to the area that needs it and cold therapy systems can be the answer. View the below video as an overview as to how cold therapy systems work:

Benefits of Cold Therapy

Icing an injured area can involve ice packs or even just a Ziploc bag filled with ice. While these can deliver cold therapy, they often aren’t the most efficient ways to deliver cold therapy to our injured areas. So how does cold therapy actually work? By applying ice to your skin, blood vessels are narrowed (this is called vasoconstriction) and can reduce your metabolic rate, inflammation, circulation, and muscle spasms. This narrowing of the blood vessels causes a reduction in blood flow to the affected area, therefore reducing swelling. Obviously, the effectiveness of any therapy program is contingent upon patient adherence, so make sure you follow your doctor or therapist’s instructions carefully.

Polar Active Cold Therapy System with 15 Quart Cooler

Okay, understanding how cold and ice can benefit us in our quest for healing is one thing, but how does this ice cold therapy system benefit you? The Polar Active Ice Cold Therapy System is specifically designed to be used in a postsurgical environment. It benefits the user by circulating ice cold water through a hose to a bladder specifically designed for the area in which you need relief. Patients should be aware that water circulating is cold enough to freeze skin, so caution should be taken and all directions should be followed. The universal rectangular or U-shaped bladder can be secured to any injured area in a variety of manners, which makes it perfect for large areas such as the back, hips, or any contoured area like shoulders or knees.There are bladders designed as a knee compression wrap (KAW), lumbar/hip compression wrap (LAW), or shoulder compression wrap (SAW). Also available are bladders custom-designed for your foot and ankle area to make it easy to use them for any kind of ankle or foot injury. You should always be sure to use the proper bladder for youinjury so that your therapy session is optimized. Each therapy session starts with water and ice being added to the “cooler” part of the system. It’s from this reservoir of cold ice/water that the magic happens. Once you connect whatever body part bladder you require to the hose connected to the cooler, a pump will circulate cold water through the connecting hose to the area covered by the bladder.One tip: use larger chunks of ice since they will melt slower and your therapy can last longer. Depending on your therapy needs, the Polar Active Ice Cold Therapy System is available in a 9 quart and a 15 quart version. To add convenience to this therapy system, a rechargeable lithium ion battery is available so your therapy can go with you. You should work with your doctor to see which side system or bladder would be perfect for your therapy needs.

 

Knee Compression Wrap       Lumbar Compression Wrap         Foot Bladder

It’s a proven fact that ice/cold therapy aids in the healing process. While patient adherence to any therapy program is paramount, using the most efficient manner to deliver cold therapy can go a long way to expedite recovery. By using a cold therapy system, you can effectively deliver cold therapy precisely where you need it and can get you back to your normal active life!!