Use of External Supports in Pediatric Therapy

I’m often asked by participants in my workshops to discuss external supports that I use to augment and extend my handling skills when treating the children in my pediatric physical therapy practice. We all learn tricks of the trade so to speak as we develop and refine our clinical skills throughout our professional careers. Over the years I’ve learned to utilize many supports that work very effectively to enhance a child’s functional ability both during and between therapy sessions. Let’s take a look and I’ll highlight some of my favorite external supports for you…

Strapping systems are one of my favorite devices. Whether made of Fabrifoam, neoprene, betapile, elastic wrap, or TheraTogs, I use stapping systems frequently to control and correct rotational concerns in arms and legs, to provide a figure 8 support to a child’s shoulder girdles, to secure a child to a therapy bench, or prevent a child’s legs from involuntarily extending at the knees or flexing at the hips in sitting. In general, strapping systems provide an external way to manage a child’s [Please upgrade your membership to Basic to access this content. Thanks.]