When a child attains a certain age, he or she may be referred to a certified orthotist for brand new leg braces. The braces may be Ankle Foot Orthoses, Supra Malleolar Orthoses, Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses, or Knee Orthoses. When this happens, there are several things an orthotist can do to enable a child not just to stand and walk better but also to adapt easily to the new leg braces.
Help the child feel at ease
As obvious as this may sound, it is not something that should ever be taken lightly. With adults, it is easy to put them at ease through a friendly introduction, explanation of what the leg braces will do and then get down to business on assessment and imaging for prescribed leg braces. When it comes to children, the introduction to the new braces must never be rushed. Depending on the age of a child, the introduction may include playing with toys with them, talking about the things the kids love. The objective is to find something that you and the child have in common. This will make it easy for you to build trust with the child. Needless to say, building trust early will go a very long way in the process of adapting braces. It will help eliminate anxiety in a child.
Involve the parent
A conversation between the orthotist, the child, and the parent will give valuable insight into the needs of a child at home, school, and in the community. The conversation should not stop there. You need more information from the child’s physician, physiotherapist, and other specialists. This information will help you keep the treatment focused on every aspect of the child’s needs. Including the child in the conversation will help confirm their feelings and give them a chance to get their questions answered. No matter how young a child is, it is good to include them in the choices regarding their care. You can discuss details such as the design of the brace more so when it comes to the graphics and colours.
Give kids a distraction to avoid boredom and anxiety
Everything does not have to be all professional in the office. As an orthotist, it is your job to keep your patients at ease. One of the things you can do is allow kids to play their favorite games or cartoons on a computer. Allowing this will keep the child happily occupied as you work on their assessment, imaging or casting process. Showing the child photos of the braces, more so those worn by other kids can help them know they are not alone.
Give your patient an ‘artistic license’
When it comes to making kids accept new leg braces and easily adapt to them, you have to bend to their in with regards to the colors and graphics on the braces. Allowing kids to choose the colours and graphics they want has proven to be very effective in helping them accept new braces. Remember that it is the child that will be wearing the braces and not their parent. The good news is that you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to the selection of graphics and colors for leg braces. Infusing the graphics and colors that a child likes will go a long way in helping them make the new braces their own.
The secret to helping a child adapt to new leg braces is talking to them and making them as comfortable as possible. Our team at CP Health understands this. If you need orthotics Ajax, we encourage you to get in touch with us today.