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We are very excited to have recently discovered the Firefly GoTo Seat designed by Leckey.  This is a portable postural seat that can be used in many different situations for instance to enable your child to sit at the table in a restaurant, in a shopping trolley or even in a swing.  The seat can be attached securely to any type of chair and it has a harness and side supports to give your child the support they need.  It is perfect for children with mild to moderate postural needs, particularly children with low trunk tone such as children with Down’s Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy.  It’s lightweight, portable and washable making it easy to use and it enables your child to participate in all sorts of fun activities where they need additional postural support. Lots of the families we have recommended the product to have said it has changed their lives and they absolutely love it!   Take a look at Leckey’s video to see and hear real life stories from parents of children using the GoTo Seat:

Have you recently purchased a Firefly GoTo Seat?  Let us know the difference it has made in the comments section below!

In this blog post, our Head of Paediatric Physiotherapy, Lindsey Hopkinson shares her experience and knowledge on specialised seating systems for children with special needs.

I have worked with children with special needs for seven years and have a working knowledge of various seating systems used at home and within community settings. I often try to attend The Kidz South Exhibition which exhibits various resources and equipment for children with special needs, and new innovations arise yearly.

The main companies that I use are: Leckey, JCM Seating, Jenx and R82.

My clinical reasoning when trialling a chair depends on the following:

• Age of the child
• Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Aim of the chair in terms of functional use
• Aim of chair in terms of the child’s postural requirements
• Environment that the chair will be used in
• Parental and child preference
• Child’s pelvic and spinal alignment
• Head control
• Trunk control
• Child’s range of motion at their hips and knees
• Child’s specific movement disorder
• Specific chair modalities such as tilt in space etc.

As you can see, there are lots to consider when finding the correct seating system to improve a child’s function in sitting and to provide appropriate postural management. Every child is different and it’s important to ensure each child has a chair that is fitted to the child’s needs.

Are you looking for a specialist paediatric physio to assess your child and recommend a seating system?  Our physios are able to see your child at school or home and we can even arrange the first appointment within 24 hours.  Contact us today on 0207 884 0374 or email us at info@physiocomestoyou.com.

Finally the long awaited Firefly UpSee has been launched and is available to order now.  The UpSee is a harness that is worn by a child and attaches to a belt worn by an adult.  The child also wears special rubber sandals that are then fastened to their parents’ feet. This allows the children to stand upright and walk in sync with their parent.

The idea behind the UpSee is to optimize social inclusion and family participation as it allows the child to be on the same level as their peers and leaves their hands free for play, exploration and learning. The physical benefits are that the child is in a weight bearing position which can help with hip development and the repetition of stepping can also encourage the child to start initiating the movement purposefully. The parent can also control the steps to prevent scissoring of the legs, which is often a problem for children with Cerebral Palsy.  The harness can be adjusted and the amount of support gradually reduced to work on trunk and head control and increase weight bearing. The harness can also be used in therapy and is a great idea for making physio fun and functional!

The UpSee costs £269, including shipping and Firefly suggests that delivery may take up to 12 weeks.  The UpSee is suitable to use for most children, regardless of the severity of their problems. However, there are some contraindications for its use and the company recommends an assessment by a therapist before purchasing the product, as it only available online and you cannot trial it before buying.  If you are considering buying an UpSee, please contact us first to book an assessment in order for us to advise you on its suitability.

To see how the UpSee has changed one little boy’s life, Jack, watch this short video from Firefly here:

Neuromuscular disorders can be inherited or acquired and include a wide a range of conditions.  Neuromuscular disorders are caused by an abnormality within the peripheral nervous system and are classified depending on where the defect occurs. The peripheral nervous system includes:

• The nerve cells (anterior horn cells) found in the spinal cord which control the muscles.
• The peripheral motor nerves in your arms, legs, neck and face.
• The neuromuscular junction where the nerves and muscles meet
• The muscles and muscle fibres.

Neuromuscular disorders are, “rare but are generally progressive and will lead to muscle weakness, fatigue and physical disability” (www.muscular-dystrophy.org). In some cases children will also have a reduced life expectancy, this varies depending on the disease and its severity but is usually as a result of heart and respiratory problems.

Examples of Neuromuscular Disorders include:

• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
• Becker Muscular Dystrophy
• Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
• Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
• Charcot Marie Tooth
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis

Signs to look out for:

Any Developmental Delay.
Children may miss their gross motor milestones e.g. not sitting at 6 months, not standing by 12 months or not walking by 18 months.

Language Delay
Children should be babbling by 10-12 months.

Difficulty with Eating or Feeding
Children may be slow at sucking, swallowing or chewing. They will generally take longer to feed and will tire quickly.

Low muscle Tone
A baby may be described as ‘floppy’.

Fatigue
Children may get tired quickly when walking or playing.

Frequent Falls or Tripping
Children may not be able to pick up their feet properly, or their legs give way due to muscle weakness.

Abnormal Gait
Have you noticed your child’s gait changing?  For instance, have they started walking on their toes?

Any Regression in Gross Motor Skills
This is a cause for concern e.g. if they start finding it hard to get up off the floor, have difficulty climbing the stairs, or are unable to run or jump.

Children with neuromuscular diseases require a multidisciplinary team and a holistic approach to care to ensure coordinated treatment and timely referrals.  A physiotherapist will be able to develop a treatment plan and modify it accordingly in anticipation of changes during periods of growth and development.  Muscle weakness can lead to muscle shortening, joint contractures, chronic pain, postural deformities and reduced ability to walk.

How Can Physio Help?

Maintain Muscle Strength.
It is well documented that “strengthening exercises will not prevent muscle wasting and in some cases can cause further damage to the muscle cells” (Stokes, M. (2004). Physical Management in Neurological Rehabilitation.). Physiotherapists will be able to advise on appropriate exercises and activities.

Manage Muscle Shortening and Joint Contractures
Physios can advise on an individual stretching programme and the use of splints. They can also closely monitor and manage the spine as well as promote mobility with the provision of walking aids, orthotics and/or wheelchairs at the appropriate time.  Physios can also help the management of any respiratory complications.

Our paediatric team are dedicated to making physiotherapy treatment fun and functional in order to help children reach their maximum potential and optimal quality of life.  To book an appointment with one of our paediatric physios, contact us today on 0207 884 0374 or email us at info@physiocomestoyou.com.