United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Thanks Kate I'm just waiting to hear back from Frankies OT she is trying to get more info on how its used and wear its placed and how to get trained in using it for BPI. Was it hards for you to learn to use yours ??? how did you know wear to put it?? and how does the screen work I mean does it say deltoid, bicep ect how do you know what muscle you have working frankis muscles and tendons have been moved around so much its hard for his therapist to know which one is which so I think this may very well be the answer to my prayers sorry for asking so many questions Thanks Mare

Mare,

It was incredibly easy to use! If you've done any e-stim you know where to put the electrodes - they go right on the muscle belly. You can even just hold the triode electrode against the skin to "test" the various areas. There isn't any screen with the single-channel unit, there is just a row of lights - 5 green and 5 yellow. At rest when there is no activity, there is one green light. As the muscle activity increases, more lights go on. The yellow lights are "above threshold", the green "below". You will want to start with gain on x100 and the threshold light all the way clockwise. This is the most sensitive setting.

Even without doing any specific muscle retraining techniques, just the feedback that you will get from it will probably tell you really surprising things about what muscles actually are (and aren't) activating! That's been the biggest revelation for me with Joshua.

Lets talk specifics of what muscles to try, turning down the sensitivity, and all those types of details on the sEMG board if that's ok? I think these posts will be really helpful for future people using this therapy technique, and would hate for them to get lost amongst all the other threads. This is important stuff to preserve for posterity!

http://bpisemg.proboards102.com/index.cgi

Kate

Kate,

Could you please keep me up to date on this? I have a super hectic schedule and I don't get to log on as much as I'd like to... but I'm trying--even though I've been horribly sick since after camp. Today is the first day that I feel ALMOST human again. I know Kath said you were going to set up a board for this and it might be posted in here, but I have to run out the door again.
Feel free to email me!

Peggy

Do you also need a scrip to purchase it or just for the rentals?
Thanks, Sue

I was told by the rental co to rent they need a script to buy just a credit card Mare

I purchased mine and I did not need a script.
I am so excited mine arrived yesterday.
I can't wait to use it.
I personally think this is an exciting project and one I am thrilled to undertake.
Can you imagine using muscles properly after 67 years?

Kath robpi/adult

It turns out that if you buy from lifematters. com you do not need a prescription. This is because the guy who runs the site is a licensed therapist and offers support via his website, so he is allowed to sell it directly.

Kate

Kate can you also ask him if he can rent it directly too? I think this might be where the problem lies.
Thanks,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

I did ask if he could rent us the machines, but he's really not set up to rent and doesn't think it's economically feasible to do it. He suggested that there are medical device rental places in most major cities and to check your local yellowpages; you might find something there.

Kate

I think Dr. Pape used this in her workshop 2 summers ago. It was the only worthwhile thing i got out of it.