Disability Newsfeed for Disabled People, Parents, Carers, Occupational Therapists and AHPs

​Frances George, Specialist Physiotherapist, MSc, BSc, HPC, MCSP, talks us through Beth's case study and her walking progress with the Mustang walking aid.  http://bit.ly/1pX6otA The Mustang is a walking aid for disabled children and youngsters, who need supplementary assistance with their daily walking. The Mustang provides excellent and snug support for the upper body whilst also keeping the child’s pelvis gently supported. The upright, slightly forward leaning position stimulates the walking function and encourages the child to participate in daily activities. The Mustang can be used by e.g. Cerebral Palsy children and others with lack of balance and impairment of their motor function. The Mustang is developed as a basic anterior walker but can also be used as a posterior gait trainer, depending on the child’s level of ability. The Mustang is available in four sizes and suitable for children and young people. For further information please visit  http://www.r82.co.uk/ , e...

Tommy, an inquisitive 3-year-old from Immingham, Humberside has recently started using  R82’s Mustang gait trainer  that allows proper positioning and support for children while they learn the skills of stepping and walking. Tommy lives with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex which has caused the growth of benign tumours, particularly in his brain and affects movement and abilities. Tommy has high tone in his lower legs and requires a lot of support to facilitate walking and to progress developmentally. Tommy recently started attending Humberston Park Special School, Grimsby, where Frances George, Specialist Physiotherapist, MSc, BSc, HPC, MCSP has introduced “walking and stepping” focus groups to assess the walking patterns of children with different abilities. Frances explains: “To encourage a child to walk, it is important to understand the 3 gait phases of a normal walking pattern – the heel strike, stance phase and toe off which happen reciprocally. If a child makes a heel...