The verticalizer is a device that is independent or goes in addition to other rehabilitation means. Designed to maintain the body in an upright position for people with disabilities. The main purpose is to prevent and mitigate the negative consequences of a sedentary or recumbent lifestyle, such as bedsores, kidney and lung failure, osteoporosis.
In this article, special attention will be paid to the features of verticalizers for children with cerebral palsy.
Existing types of verticalizers
Let's consider the types of verticalizers on the market.
The device, in which the patient is supported on the stomach, is especially common and is called anterior. Designed for patients with no head holding problems.
The second type is designed for people with a weakened spine and severe disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The stander with a reverse support (rear) is additionally equipped with a mechanism for gradually lifting a person from a lying position to a vertical one.
Multi-level devices allow the patient to take several positions - sitting, upright, lying down, without changing the rehabilitation device.
Static standers are designed for those unable to move independently. Fitted with wheels to assist caregivers in moving short distances in an upright position.
Mobile, on the contrary, is designed for independent movement in a standing position.
Mobile stander allows not only to move, but also to train the muscles of the legs by moving the levers with the hands, which are mechanically connected to the feet.
Competent selection of device
Only a specialist doctor is able to give the right advice on choosing a stander. To do this, the patient must undergo an examination, which will allow the doctor to identify the underlying diseases, determine the type of device and the level of fixation of the body, physical capabilities and permissible loads.
If possible, the patient should also participate in the choice of means, because only he can determine the degree of comfort of the proposed device. However, the main criteria should be the recommendations of the doctor,because the device is designed to fix existing problems, and this may cause additional discomfort.
Correct sizing
The following parameters can help you choose a device by size:
- weight and height,
- foot length,
- hip width,
- chest volume,
- foot to calf and calf to thigh on both legs.
It is also important to measure the distance from the foot to the chest. All measurements should be made in comfortable clothing for the patient and familiar shoes. If the child wears special orthopedic shoes, then measurements and fitting should be done in it. How to take measurements correctly, you should consult with your doctor, who will help determine the possible difficulties of measuring.
Important to remember
Before each use, you should carefully check the serviceability of all clamps, as well as the reliability of the brakes.
The greater the angle of the verticalizer, the greater the load on the legs and spine. That is why it is unacceptable to start training immediately from 90 °, and the time of the first training should not exceed 2-3 minutes.
The verticalizer is installed only on a horizontal surface without possible slopes. If movement is not expected on the device, it must be put on the brake.
Children's standers for patients with cerebral palsy
Since the child will spend a lot of time in this device in the future, the choice should fall on the verticalizer supports for children with cerebral palsy, equipped with tables with sides -limiters, with the ability to change the angle of the table.
If a child has epileptic seizures or convulsive readiness, it is worth softening all hard edges with dense material.
It is worth noting that for children suffering from cerebral palsy, a large number of models of verticalizers have been produced. Some manufacturers give their product the appearance of an animal, a car, a dinosaur, so that the treatment of a small patient takes on an element of the game. If there are funds, there will be no problems in choosing.
Shifu Ocean Stander
For example, the Shifu Ocean stander for children with cerebral palsy is a combined device in which a sick child can be fixed both with emphasis on the stomach and with support on the back. In addition, it has several levels of fixation adjustment, as well as a soft orthopedic base, which makes the device extra comfortable.
This unit has a detachable table that can be attached to either the front or the back. Its position can also be adapted to the different needs of the child with special adjustments.
This line of products for children is available in three sizes to suit the patient's height.
Robin verticalizer
Robin devices are rear standers for children with cerebral palsy and are available in two sizes for ages 3-14. It is considered a compact device suitable for the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. It has several supports, which, thanks to theirergonomic shapes allow you to surround the child with an individual comfortable frame from all sides and give the body a stable vertical position. The support frame is equipped with an angle adjustment.
At the bottom of the device there are sandals with fasteners, the angle of which can be adjusted according to the physiological characteristics of a small patient. With the help of a low footrest, the stroller quickly becomes a stander for children with cerebral palsy. If the child is not able to control his body or suffers from convulsive readiness, a strong wide belt is provided for him.
The Robin stander for children with cerebral palsy is characterized by quick and easy adjustment. It folds effortlessly and stores compactly. The package does not include a removable table, it must be purchased separately.
How to make a verticalizer with your own hands
Despite all the positive aspects of this device, it has a significant drawback - the price. New verticalizers for children with cerebral palsy cost from 25,000 rubles, many, slightly better equipped, step over the threshold of 100,000 rubles. You can buy the unit from your hands after a child who has grown out of the device, but it is worth noting that each patient with cerebral palsy has its own characteristics of deviation, it will take a very long time to look for or take what is and adjust it to its size.
And you can immediately decide and make a stand for a child with cerebral palsy with your own hands. However, you still have to spend money on materials and a professional engineering drawing.
However, these costs will still be many times less than for the purchase of a finished device. First, decide what material the support will be made of. Based on the selected material, contact an engineer who will prepare a professional drawing of the device according to individual measurements. Next, you should contact the doctor for possible corrections and recommendations that will be given according to the physiological characteristics of the child.
If you have the skills to work with the selected material, you can start self-assembly. If there are no such skills, you should contact a specialist.
Do not forget that in addition to the stander for a child with cerebral palsy, you need a softening lining and adjustable clamps. For this work, it is also worth using high-quality material that will not create additional problems. The lining should not be too soft, and the fastening straps should not be too hard. Foam rubber and cotton wool are not recommended in this case, as is polyurethane foam, although these are the cheapest materials used in orthopedic mattresses. Cotton wool tends to fall off, foam rubber crumbles and deforms, polyurethane foam absorbs moisture, but it is almost impossible to dry it.
A more or less suitable material - both in terms of properties and budget constraints - is latex. For plating, it is also worth choosing a hypoallergenic material. It should be strong enough, but not coarse in structure. You can use cotton teak. belts canpurchase as a kit in medical supplies or assemble it yourself. As a rule, cord-nylon tape is used in their manufacture, which can be purchased at a hardware store or sewing store. They are fastened to each other with special fasteners of suitable size.
Photos of verticalizers for children with cerebral palsy are presented in this article.
