United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi, I have to questions that maybe I could get some help with. The first question is this...When I do Ella's ROM exercises now she tends to resist a lot and it is sometimes hard for me to get them done. I still finish them, but it just takes a while b/c of the resistance. When I first started doing the ROMs after she was born (1 mth ago) she had no resistance and I could basically move her arm anyway without a problem. Is this a good sign or does it always happen? My second question is regarding e-stimulation and neck adjustments. My chiropractor said that he would like to see Ella b/c he thinks he may be able to help her by doing e-stim and a neck adjustment. I never heard of doing a neck adjustment to a baby with BPI, although I do understand that e-stim is done. Is one month old too young for e-stim? and who should I ask before I agree to the treatment...our PT or neurologist? My chiropractor said that both of these wouldn't hurt her or make her injury worse. He said that it may only benefit her. What do you all think...especially about the neck adjustment, did anyone ever have that done or hear of it being done on this type of injury?

we were told by maia's doctor that regular estim (NMES) is contraindicated until after two years of age because it can damage the bony growth plates

we were told that the only estim that kids younger than that should use is TES nighttime estim which does not cause muscle contraction....

many chiropractors have TENS in their offices, so maybe this is what he has in mind... this is much different than both kinds...

www.injurednewborn.com/maia/estim.html on this page is a listing explaining the differences

in order to know for sure what is contraindicated and what is not contraindicated, this would be a good thing to ask your brachial plexus specialist (therapists, etc. may not know the specifics that a specialist would know...specific to bpi)

-francine