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The TheraSuit™ (Soft Proprioceptive Orthotic- protected by a patent as a “Neurological Motor Therapy Suit”) is a suit with built in bungee type(elastic rubber bands) mechanisms that is worn by children during one-on-one therapy so they can feel how their body should actually be aligned. Forcing the body into correct posture and causing the proper function of postural muscles encourages the patient to learn (or re-learn) correct patterns of movement according to the website. These are intense physical therapy sessions lasting at least three hours a day, five days a week, for three weeks, for children with special needs.
The special needs treated with TheraSuit are cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, stroke, developmental delays, ataxia, athetosis, traumatic brain injuries, autism, and children with sensory integration issues. After finishing the intense physical therapy program parents are expected to keep working with their child at home using the maintenance program so the child will continue to make progress.
The suit is a stabilizing influence on the body and therefore allows for more coordinated movements of the upper and lower extremities of the body. Studies conducted have shown that 94% of patients using the therapy program improve their fine and gross motor skills. TheraSuit is able to offer drastic help with sensory integration problems by providing both tactile stimulation and pressure all over the child’s body helping to restore proper nervous system function. When the suit is first used on a child in therapy it provides support for weak muscles however, as the child progresses in therapy the bands are tightened to provide resistance which therefore improves strength. Some children can learn to crawl, stand independently, and walk with assisting devices or even walk by themselves using the suit according to the various studies and documentaries. Once a child has mastered various movements, playing games, getting dressed, and other daily functions become much easier.
The suit was designed by two physical therapists, Izabela Koscienlny P.T. and Richard Koscienlny P.T, that also have a child with C.P. TheraSuit™ is also the only therapy suit in the United States registered with the FDA. Once she has mastered these tasks, playing games, dressing herself, and other day-to-day functions become much easier.
This looks really interesting! Actually, it looks really odd and strange – but just by looking, I can see how it could help my daughter with severe SID.
I went to the website to check into it, but ended up more confused than helped. I could not find anywhere that listed a price on the suit. Even the trainings listed prices but didn’t include the suit price. A couple of places said you could purchase the suit after the training, but did not mention the cost of the suit.
Were you able to figure any of that out?
http://www.leapbeyondtherapy.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx
This link, which is located in the article is to a website for a facility that offers this training. It listed a price of 5000, but I don’t know if that includes the suit. Try emailing them and good luck to you.