Lycra vest/suit and Lycra Clinic - anyone?

[hazeyjane]

Ds's ot thinks he may benefit from wearing attending a lycra clinic, and having a lycra suit/vest.

He is 3.6, has low tone and slumps when tired, has a tendency to lie on the floor instead of sitting and lacks core strength. She thought it might also help with sensory issues.

Does anyone have any experience of them?

[Redoubtable]

Yes. They can be really helpful and useful. Has he tried a body sock or weighted vest?

One of these can have a similar effect.

I find that children with lone tone issues/ hyperflexibility really enjoy playing in these, doing their commando crawls etc.

If getting to the Lycra clinic is time and/or £ heavy, it might be worthwhile trying the generic one first?

[HairyMaclary]

Yes! They really, really work for DS. The sensory feedback he gets from them means he stands straighter, walks better and has better isolation of muscle movement.

We've had a few over the years, mostly from the NHS but on we e paid privately. If the NHS re offering, go for it, it will be clear within the 4-6 months it fits him for whether it works or not.

[HairyMaclary]

Meant to say, we've had long arm/ leg ones, short arm/ leg ones and shorts, different things at different times appropriate to what DS needed. We had shorts because he refused to have one up to the neck a while ago, they weren't as effective but did the job until he was ready to accept a full body one again (DS is now 9 and had his first one at 3 so has lots of experience in making his views known!)

[zen1]

DS's OT recommended compression tops like the Sondico Long Sleeved Core Base Layer Junior from Sports Direct as a cheaper alternative if you have to buy your own. If you can get one on the NHS, it is definitely worth trying.

[hazeyjane]

Thankyou everyone

It's good to hear that they can be useful, I was quite surprised when she suggested it, as they haven't crossed our radar before.

She is going to talk to the physio and arrange an appointment with the Lycra clinic, so we'll see what happens.

If he isn't eligible, I'll have a look at one of the compression tops, Zen suggests.

[mymatemax]

Hazey, has he had a sensory OT assessment.
DS2 has sensory issues that make his CP appear worse, slumping, leaning, poor core etc
The sensory therapy really worked on increasing certain movements, pressure (including body socks), bilateral integration etc etc.
I really hadn't realised how much it would help him physically, his posture & stamina improved hugely.

[hazeyjane]

Yes his OT has done a sensory profile, and is working out a sensory diet for him. She said that in our area, they don't often send children to the Lycra Clinic who haven't got cerebral palsy, but because she thinks that ds's low tone and intermittent muscle stiffness is causing a lot of the slumping, lying and propping, as well as the sensory stuff, that he may be a candidate.

Fingers crossed.

[yomellamoHelly]

Massive difference to ds in terms of improving his concentration and coomunication. Physically there wasn't a massive change - which was the only one I was expecting! Going for a glove now to help hand control.

[Toots38]

We use one for DD and it's brilliant! She is more confident in her movements when wearing it, her standing and stepping is vastly improved. The amount of feedback it gives it her is almost overwhelming, we have to watch her carefully and she currently only wears it for short periods of time, but we are working on building this up. I hope it goes well at the clinic, there's a lot of measuring!

[youarewinning]

Through my work at school I have. I found found the success rates and benefits for pupils extremely high. Some of our pupils have been in significantly less pain as well as gaining more range of movement when they have a suit.

[Sneezecakesmum]

We notice a definite improvement when DGS is wearing his SPIO lycra vest. It's fairly light but he still gets hot in it in warmer weather, but he gets hot easily because of the effort of movement, so we rarely use it except for riding.

It's advantage is light and easy to put on.

The other type of lycra garment is a lot heavier and difficult to get in and out of but does a really good job of encouraging proprioception and better posture.

Check out SPIO (USA) and DMO garments for an idea.

[Sneezecakesmum]

www.bobath.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/British-Journal-of-Occupational-Therapy-2003-662-71-77.pdf