Starfish Therapies
Starfish Therapies Newsletter
Happy New Year!

January 2011

Volume 26 

In This Issue
Updates
Out and About
Just For Fun
Carry Your Child Safely
Terminology
Starfish Updates
starfish
Blog:  Check out our most recent blog posts! Giving Back:  This month our donation is going to DSUSAFW - Disabled Sports USA Far West.  This group has multiple options for people of all abilities to get involved with activities such as skiing and rafting.
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Out and About
Snow Fun
Now that Winter is here there are great options for exploring the snow.  In the Tahoe area there is adaptive skiing for people of all abilities.  There are also multiple resorts with all sorts of snow activities including sledding and tubing if skiing and snowboarding aren't for you.  If that much activity doesn't suit you the Your Therapy Source has some great ideas for fun snow activities that stimulate the sensory system as well as the imagination!
Just For Fun
snow
Continuing the snow theme, you can have fun with your kids by making snowflakes.  Its a great introduction to scissors or a great way to work on fine motor control.  It will also bring in imagination and creativity if you want to decorate the house for a snowfall!
Greetings!

Welcome back! We hope you have had a wonderful start to the new year.  Enjoy reading this month!
How to Carry Your Child Safely: Protect Yourself!
 

mom and babyWhen caring for your child, you are most likely focused on his/her safety.  Thus, caregivers often forget to ensure the proper body mechanics needed to keep themselves safe. Parents should remind themselves, however, that their health and safety are of utmost importance in maintaining their child's well-being.

 

Caring for your child puts increased stress on your back, which may result in back pain or injuries.  When your child is an infant, you may be lifting approximately 7 to 10 pounds about 50 times per day.  By the time your child is 3, this number increases to about 25 to 30 pounds.  Given the increased load and repetitive lifting, caregivers are at a great risk for injury if they do not use the proper body mechanics.

 

So, here are a few tips to keep in mind when you are carrying for your child to make sure you are keeping your body safe.

 

  1. Avoid stretching your arms out to reach for your child.  Instead, always get as close as possible to your child before you try to pick him up.
  2. When picking your child up from the floor or a low surface, lift by bending at your knees in a squat position, rather than bending at your back.
  3. When changing your child, do not lean over the surface area.  You should adjust the work surface so that she is at the level of your navel.
  4. When feeding your child, keep both your and your child's faces at even levels to prevent you from slouching over. When you are putting your child in or removing your child from a high chair, always take off the high chair tray.
  5. When putting your child in or taking him out of a crib, always put the side of the crib down so you do not have to bend over it.
  6. When transferring your child into a bathtub, sit on the edge of the bathtub with one foot outside of the tub and one foot inside the tub.

For more information on tips to keep yourself safe when caring for your child, please click  here and here..

 

 

 


Terminology: Righting...

We know that sometimes the words used in your child's therapy reports don't always make sense.  Hopefully this will help you to understand what your therapist means when they talk about righting reactions.

 

Righting is the movement between body segments in relation to each other and the environment. It occurs as the body moves and changes it's relationship with gravity.  We all use righting reactions throughout the day during activities such as rolling over in bed, changing directions when walking and standing up. Righting reactions are an element of balance. There are two main types of righting: head and trunk.

 

Head Righting: this refers to the movement of the head to vertical as the trunk is displaced from the vertical position. You may see your therapist test this by tilting your child forwards, backwards, and to either side.  The goal is to see if your child can maintain a vertical position of their head so they continue to have a functional view of their environment.

 

Trunk Righting: this occurs when the trunk moves in relation to a change in base of support. All position changes and weight shifts require adjustments of the muscles between the shoulders and the pelvis, otherwise known as the trunk.  Therefore, when you change your base of support by standing on one foot, shifting your weight in sitting to reach, or rolling from your side to your back, your trunk must adjust to maintain the new base of support.

 

Head and trunk righting develop naturally in infants.  However, in the presence of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal impairments these righting reactions may not occur naturally and may need to be trained with exercises.  Impaired righting reactions can effect all areas of development so it is important to identify and address as necessary.  Consult with your therapist if you have concerns.

Thank you for reading this month.  We always appreciate your support.  See you next month! 
Sincerely,

 


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Starfish Therapies