Cerebral Palsy Therapeutic Equipment
There are a ton of devices out there to purchase for children with cerebral palsy. Many different style walkers, strollers, wheel chairs, etc. We have been blessed with great equipment such as, the TAOS, Kid Cart and a bath chair. All of these wonderful pieces of equipment have been covered by Medicaid and that is another God send.
TAOS (Therapeutic Ambulatory Orthotic System)
The TAOS (Therapeutic Ambulatory Orthotic System) allows us to let Tristan stand nearly independent by hoisting him up mid waist. It can be confusing at first if you’ve not ever used a TAOS, but the benefits are worth the initial frustrations. The TAOS is a unique walker that emphasizes weight distribution on the legs, and not the arms (unlike most traditional walkers), being that Tristan doesn’t have full control of his arms, this is a clear advantage. The TAOS has 4 wheels connected to a main frame that supports the rest of the apparatus. The wheels allow for movement (they also lock if needed), the harness (the part that holds Tristan) can be rotated 360 degrees which allows for easier access to flat surfaces due to the size of the TAOS (there’s also a bike seat attached to the TAOS for sitting while still hoisted in the TAOS). It also has the option of a head rest (keeping Tristan from flinging his head backwards), and nylon cords attached at the base of the frame that can be connected to the boots. The cords are a “reminder” that Tristan has to alternate his feet while walking in order to move (the cords are attached to a pivoting device on the frame that attach to the boots). The boots are specifically designed for the TAOS. They have brackets attached to them that serve as an integral part of the TAOS system. The brackets are attached to the braces of the harness, which are setup a lot like the human legs. The braces run the length of the child’s legs up to the hips, basically when the boots move, the TAOS will too. The TAOS also has the ability to be adjusted with the growth of your child, including ordering new shoes.
Thanks to the TAOS, Tristan can use his best attribute (his legs) to his advantage. He can easily push his entire body to reach objects (I like to hold the guitar to get him to reach for it), or even regular toys.
Using the TAOS can be frustrating at first, but with practice (nothing short of about 10 times) it comes a little easier. The hardest thing with our son can be putting his boots on! When it comes to putting him in the harness, we place the it on the floor, and lay Tristan inside it and buckle him up. The hoist has a metal bracket on the back that locks into the main frame, so putting him in the harness first is pretty much the only way to get him in.
The following link is the direct website for the TAOS.
Kid Cart
Our son has, what is known as, a kid cart. It is similar to a wheel chair, except it is visually more appealing and a lot more versatile. The best way to describe the kid cart would be a wheel chair mixed with a stroller. The kid cart is durable like a wheel chair and also offers the uses of a stroller.
The main purpose of the kid cart is to inhibit our son from toning. The kid cart positions him in an upright position, keeping his body at 90 degree angles. It has a head support and side to side reinforcements (almost like a racing seat), with a 4 point harness padding and a traditional lap belt. The kid cart also has wheelie bars (helpful because of its size), an under carriage for storage (great place for a diaper bag), and a bag that hangs from the handle for light storage. There’s also a tray that locks in to hold light objects such as toys or a portable DVD player (another God send).
We do have a traditional stroller that we paid very little for, and we primarily use that when going out now. Tristan has a hard time with the Kid Cart, we think it’s because he’s unable to move while in it, and the stroller allows him to kick his legs. We used the Kid Cart for a year as the only means of transporting Tristan while in malls, shopping centers, or restaurants. Although we mainly use the traditional stroller, it’s still great to have the Kid Cart around as we plan to implement it again in the future.
Otter Bath Chair
This is the simplest and most often used pieces of equipment, though it’s not a therapeutic device, it is extremely useful. Giving a bath to a child with cerebral palsy can be a daunting task, especially when that child is my son! It’s like trying to wrestle an alligator, only he doesn’t relax bell up!
The Otter bath chair consists of a mesh material (so water can pass through and won’t hold bacteria), Velcro that runs up and down the back sides of the Otter bath chair, allowing easy adjustment for our son (this is a great attribute because it can grow with Tristan), there are also Velcro straps for each leg (though we don’t use these) for a little more support while scrubbing down a wiggly alligator. The Otter bath chair’s frame is made out of durable plastic tubing, and is extremely light. The Otter also has the ability to recline and the supports on the bottom are also adjustable, making it easier to store in a bathroom, closet, etc.
Tags: apgar, birth injury, Cerebral Palsy, cerebral palsy equipment, occupational therapy, physical therapy, Special Needs, speech therapy