BipGear Occupational and Rehabilitation Supplies

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The ear is usually associated with hearing. It may seem odd, but parts of the ear contribute to our sense of balance and our position in space.

Structures inside the inner ear monitor head movement and are called the vestibular system. The vestibular system sends messages to the brain about the head’s position and direction of movement. As Wikipedia states: “The vestibular system sends signals primarily to the neural structures that control our eye movements, and to the muscles that keep us upright.” The signals to the part of the brain controlling eye movements are necessary so that we can do such things as catch a ball while running or even the simple act of reading.

The inner ear is not alone in the process that keeps our bodies balanced. According to the Vestibular Disorders Association our “ability to maintain balance depends on information that the brain receives from three different sources: the eyes, the muscles and joints, and the vestibular organs in the inner ears. All three of these sources send information in the form of nerve impulses from sensory receptors, special nerve endings, to your brain.”

As you might guess, this is a very complex system that processes information in microseconds. And like all things human, sometimes things can go wrong.

One of the many problems that can occur is called “gravitational insecurity.” Sensorysystemsclinic.com defines this insecurity as “an irrational fear of movement. Children with gravitational insecurity may exhibit limited participation in gross motor play; avoidance or fear of escalators, elevators, or cars; or resistance to being off the ground.”

We might argue that it is not irrational. Persons with this disorder are acting logically. It is rational to become acutely afraid if you believe you are going to fall and land on the back of your head. The difficulty is that the judgement about falling is based on incorrect information. Either the signals sent to the brain are false or the way in which the brain processes those signals is flawed; or both.

Perhaps it would be better just to say that people with gravitational insecurity display fears of movement that to us appear irrational and misplaced.

Autismsa.org.au has a nice information sheet about gravitational insecurity. Symptoms of this problem may include:

• “anxiety when feet leave the ground
• fear of falling or being moved suddenly
• dislike being upside down
• uneasiness when walking on uneven surfaces
• intolerance of movement, sometimes manifested by nausea, vomiting and flushing
• upset when tipped backward e.g. for nappy change, lying down to sleep.”

Some of their recommendations in treating this problem include:

“Encourage movement activities as part of a daily routine. Movement activities can include:
swings, hammock, scooter board, slide, see saw, bikes, barrel, rolling down a slope, rolling up
in a rug, climbing play equipment, trampoline, rocking horse, rocking chair, sit and spin toys
etc.”

They have further suggestions to help a child or older person with this problem on their site and we encourage you to read the article.

We at Bipgear are proud to offer a variety of high quality products that may be helpful in the treatment of sensory integration disorders and gravitational insecurity.

Our product line includes:
Platform Swings

Spin Boards

Body Socks

And many other products for Motor Skills and Balance

www.bipgear.com

I recently came across an interesting book: Developmental Coordination Disorder by Sharon A. Cermak, Dawn Larkin; Cengage Learning; 2001.

Among the book’s many interesting findings, I want to focus on the principles underlying the use of Bip Gear’s platform swing and resistance tunnel today.

The authors write that:
“Common to SI [sensory integration] activities is some form of intense movement or vestibular/balance input. This…can be accomplished through therapy or play equipment suspended from the ceiling (or a tree or outdoor play structure). Traditionally, the types of equipment suspended have included…a platform swing, a trapeze bar, a bolster swing…Also used is anything upon which the child can sit and bounce (therapy ball), stand and bounce…or pull with arms and get a rebound shock such as a shock cord.” (p. 215)

They continue on this theme and state that:
“the child with low muscle tone and poor cocontraction could use heavy joint and muscle work (proprioception) combined with movement (vestibular) to increase feedback to his or her joints and muscles, thereby increasing the tone and cocontraction.” (p.216)

How can this be easily provided for the child?

“An example would be the child…using shock cord (elastic) to pull himself while lying on a platform swing.” (p. 216)

Another example is the Bip Gear resistance tunnel. To help increase the degree of resistance over time, the child can be encouraged to roll a ball or other objects ahead of him or her through the tunnel.

Such activity, the authors write, “provide the preparation of the underlying neural process thought to facilitate the development of praxis ["the ability to conceive, organize and execute skills].” (p. 216)

Of course, children learn and thrive best in supportive and caring environments. Cermak and Larkin argue that “providing the emotional environment is equally essential for successful treatment….Good relationships between the child, therapist, and parents are needed and must be carefully fostered.” (p. 215)

We at Bip Gear want to be an integral part of that formula. All of our staff are dedicated to ensuring a strong, positive working relationship with parents and occupational therapists. We carefully listen to your needs and strive to provide the highest quality products and service.

After reading Cermak and Larkin’s book, we learned the value of adding a “shock cord” to the use of our platform swings and other products. Bip Gear will soon be adding elasticized cords to our catalog. Please email us and let us know that you want to learn when that and other new products become available.

In the meantime, please browse our selection of handmade, durable and high-quality platform swings. And remember, special orders are our pleasure to provide.

Here is a video of a Bip Gear Body Sock in use by Blythewood School

Platform swings are a great therapeutic tool used by Occupational Therapists to improve cognitive thinking skills, comprehension skills, and coordination. Our Platform Swings allow therapists the ability to create a wide range of tilting and angled movements. This tool challenges balance and postural adjustments and can be used with clients in a variety of developmental positions from lying down sitting to standing.
Bip Gear LLC will be expanding its line of platform swings adding several new variations in size and length.

Drawing and writing are essential ways that people can communicate with each other.  At the same time, writing and drawing can be fun and pleasurable activities.

However, it is difficult for some children to master the basic mechanics of holding a pencil or crayon.  That can make writing and drawing frustrating and even downright depressing.

But a number of aids and exercises have been developed to help your child learn to draw and write.

The use of adaptive pen and pencil grips may be helpful to your child. The Bip Grip is demonstrated on YouTube.

The Bip Grip is a wonderfully simple tool to help your child learn to write and draw. The Bip Grip is an adaptive aid that makes it easier for your child to grasp pens, pencils and crayons. Writing and drawing have now been made easier for both left and right handed users. The Bip Grip also helps alleviate the symptoms of writer’s cramp, carpal tunnel syndrome, calluses and arthritis.

If you are trying to help your child develop his or her ability to hold pencils, pens and crayons, there are several web sites that provide helpful exercises and tips.

YCSD Occupational Therapy Handwriting has a list of 23 different exercises to help build the muscle strength and coordination needed for handwriting. These activities range from

• shifting a slinky by raising and lowering each hand in a palm’s up position
• putting pennies into a piggy bank or into a container that has a slot cut through a plastic lid
• using a turkey baster to blow cork or ping pong balls back and forth

The sites authors also suggest that:

“It is important to try to modify the pencil grasp as early as possible, since many students seem to have developed bad habits even before entering kindergarten. Adaptive pencil grips may be helpful in teaching students to modify their grasp.”

The web site OTility Pencil Grasp Patterns also has a list of activities to help develop the muscles and skills needed for grippingvpencils, pens and crayons. These include

• Finger plays/string games such as Cat’s Cradle
• Use tongs/tweezers to pick up blocks/small objects
• Popping bubble wrap

The page also has a helpful video about developing seating posture, writing grips and related issues.

There is also a video on YouTube entitled: Pencil Grip -- How to Help Your Child Hold a Pencil Correctly. As the name suggests, it’s a very simple tutorial on how to correctly grip a pencil.

Description: A Bip gear Body Sock is a translucent, sensory- stimulating tubular sleeve, constructed from the highest quality Spandex material. Once inside this self-sealing enclosure, users find themselves creating their own living art, letting their imagination flow and just plain having fun!

Body Sock Sizing: What size is right for me? It is recommended that the Body Sock be the height of the individual using it. Example: If you are 5′ feet 6″ inches tall, a Body Sock of the same height would be perfect, giving plenty of stretch. Never order a Body Sock that is larger then the user. Example: If you are 4′ feet, a Body Sock 4′ feet 6″ inches tall will be to big. Always make sure a proper measurement is taken of the user before placing your order.

Care Instructions: Body socks should be washed in cold water and line dried only. Bleach products should never be used on a Body sock. Ironing is also not recommended on this product.

This weekend January 24 7pm to 11pm Meeting Street school will be having its 33rd Annual Telethon.

WPRI’s Karen Adams and Mike Montecalvo will host this year’s Telethon. The four hour show will include special segments featuring children in Meeting Street’s programs, live interviews with Meeting Street families, visits from local celebrities, and a chance to see what goes on day in and day out at Meeting Street. A special feature in this year’s show will be a tribute to “Meeting Street Moms” which is scheduled for the second hour of the Telethon broadcast.

The Telethon is Meeting Street’s most important fundraising effort of the year. To donate during the Telethon, viewers can call 1-877-858-GIVE (4483) or donate online right here at meetingstreet.org. The Telethon donation line is already connected so if you would like to donate before the show, please call now or click on the button below.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Meeting Street Telethon is the online auction. The auction is now open for bidding and closes at 11 p.m. the night of the Telethon. If you want to donate an item to the auction or are interested in helping out in any other way, please contact Aimee Harvey, the Meeting Street Director of Special Events, at 401-533-9230 or email her at aharvey@meetingstreet.org.

Bipgear has donated a 250$ gift card that has an opening bid of 75$ dollars. Be sure to make a donation to Meeting Street School during the telethon or any time during the year. Don’t forget to bid on one of many prizes during the Meeting Street Telethon.

This is our first post and we are excited that it occurs at the same time as our Bipgrip is in production.
The Bipgrip is designed by Bipgear’s Chris Silva to make any pen, crayon or pencil easy to hold and use. Simply unscrew the Bipgrip. Then place the pen or crayon inside and screw together. It works equally well both left- and right-handed. Helpful for persons with even very weak grips.