sensory integration therapy helping bedwetting?

[sphil]

Having done a sensory integration training session two weeks ago, we have started doing a short programme of proprioceptive and vestibular exercises with Ds2 every evening. He has been dry for 5 of the last 7 nights - previously he was wetting the bed every night. Its too soon to say, but I am really wondering whether the exercises are having an effect. He has also been going to the playground every day after school with his student helper and is going on things like seesaws and slides, which he used to avoid, so is getting a sensory workout here too.

School have reported greater focus and concentration too - he has apparently been 'flying' in number work this week.

Of course it could just be the increase in exercise and corresponding decrease in screen time ...

Interesting though - I am a bit excited, though holding it back, as we've had these sudden spurts before and then everything has just gone back to normal.

I know that certain retained reflexes can cause bedwetting - the spinal galant, in particular - perhaps the exercises are dealing with the reflexes too?? The specific exercise for spinal galant is doing snow angels in a slow and controlled way on the floor.

We are also trying a mixture of retained reflex ( ds 12 has them all!) and sensory integration therapy in hope of improved function all round (and dry nights?). Ds has had a couple of short runs ( 3/7 for instance) of dry nights when each new treatment list is added but so far it has not lasted. We live in hope! I struggle to do the various exersises as ds can be quite variable in his willingness to take part - quite anti most the time then desparate for one or other therapy at others - usually when I must do other things! We have not started work on the spinal galant yet I don't think.
What SIT are you doing Sphil? We are using something based on the Wilbarger deep pressure and proprioception techniques. It should be done daily I think but I can't quite manage that often ( ds can be very oppositional- hes- turning into a teen), so we do what we can.
Ds was dry for about a fortnight 3 years ago ( whilst I was in hospital!) after using a frightfully noisy alarm for months that woke the whole neibourhood but not always ds!

I would assume it is the sensory integration therapy that has helped with the bed wetting - because like the others say RRT helps with it, and SIT and RRT do attack the same problem (but from different angles)

indigo what does SIT do?? And how?? Our BO is doing some SIT exercises with DS as well as the RRT. Will it help with his sensitivity to touch and noise?

I'm not exactly sure what SIT does. DS had 4 sessions on the NHS (which is not nearly enough) -but DH took him.

I don't think it will help with noise sensitivity. For that I think you have to do one of the many listening therapies. The one I've used and had amazing results with is Auditory Integration Training - but it's the most expensive by a long way.

I think both RRT and SIT should help with sensitivity to touch.

When I first started here on MN (about 2 years ago) I read a post that said do RRT before SIT - and you probably won't need SIT if you do RRT. That's the advice I followed and it has been true for my DS.

It seems we have nearly finished the RRT (with very quick progress and great results - I am so happy!!) so must be moving onto SIT now...? I just do what the lady says LOL!

I am doing mainly resisted movement exercises - so trampoline, pushing himself around on an office chair, running and crashing into bean bags, cycling, see-saw etc. I don't ever pressure him into doing them if he doesn't want to - our OT said not to - but it does mean that it's very patchy, as he often doesn't comply! He has been lying on his tummy on the swivel chair and pushing himself along with hands and feet on the floor, so I wonder whether this is helping the spinal galant reflex?

I also need to introduce some oro-motor exercises (blowing and sucking through straws, playing mouth organ, recorder etc ) as Ds is very very 'chewy' atm. Also need to try to reduce hand sensitivity - am going to try to get him to carry shopping bags and other weighted items, as well as try some hand massage, but this will be difficult as he avoids anything that makes him use a palmar grip or feels odd on his hands. Managed about ten seconds of vibrating hand massage tonight before he told me to stop.

DS stopped bed wetting 6 months into the retained reflexes programme, would have taken him a long time to stop it without it.

Search for angels in the snow exercise on youtube, thats the one that should do the trick

I dont think he could do it unfortunately - can only imitate very simple movements ( ie not arms and legs at once). I was wondering if there was an exercise I could do 'on him' iyswim - ie. manipulating his body? I read of one called the wiggly worm - but cant find a description of how to do it.

Sphil,you need 2 people to do this exercise on him, it doesn't have to be done by the child. The brain needs to only register the movement.

Then teach your DS to at least move the hands or legs as you help with the others. DS could do it oh his own only after few months

I do all the movements for ds so far, we are mostly doing massage type therapy (hands/ legs/feet) usually while he is watching TV or using his ds. There are some he is supposed to do himself ( circles around the body with a bean bag - I cannot do this for him) but it is hard to motivate him. The exception to this is the recently added theraputty which I have had to lock away (how do I clean it off the TV remote/carpet/clothes?) but am now using this as a motivator. Ds cannot copy movements either sphil . Good idea to use 2 adults blueshark. Is the angels in the snow movement exactly what children do in the snow?
Ds had a very difficult time (anxiety+++, meltdowns, loss of day continance etc) changing to sn secondary and we started RRT soon after so our therapy is tailored to address immediate needs as well as long term aims, hense the mixture.

Yes magso, search for it on youtube

We were told to do it slower than they show on youtube. We were told to aim for 30secs from arms and legs fully down to fully up. So the full exercise takes 3 minutes ( 3 slow angels).

The exercise is tricky as the arms and legs move at different rates. The arms have to move faster as they move though 180degrees, whereas the legs only open a small amount in comparison. Aim for smooth, non-jerky movements x

Does that make any sense?!?! I am not very good at explaining things LOL!

Oh thanks - that might be possible then! Will have a look on You Tube. Not sure if he'll tolerate it ( he never lies on the floor for more than a few secs) but its worth a try.