United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Is there a documented correlation?

My son is almost 6 and, while very athletic, is also very clumbsy. His teacher (bless her heart - she is very interested in him ad his injury and has asked what, if anything, she could do to help him) has asked me about it in relation to him bumping into chairs, knocking things over, not being able to sit in "Magic 5" as long as other kids, etc.

I'd like to find a write up about this if possible, for his current teacher and any/all future ones as this may impact his behavior in the classroom and how they address it (like getting reprimanded for not being able to sit or always bumping into things - I don't want them to think that he is doing it on purpose.....)

Thanks!

Sally

I don't think anybody has opened that can of worms of how bpi relates to the whole body and done studies on it. I think that Billi Cusick (of theratogs) however may be the first person to open up that can of worms.

The problem you are talking about may be something called dyspraxia (or not). This is exactly what was going on with Maia - couldn't navigate the small spaces and corners of the classroom. When she tried to sit on the floor, she kicked kids inadvertently and the kids were angry with her. When a project was given to her and she had to find tools in multiple places in the classroom she failed - it overwhelmed her. It was truly hard - she just couldn't do it successfully.

Theratogs helped her with this. With the theratogs she was able to feel the left side of her body for the first time and her navigational movements became more coordinated. Her teacher noticed a huge difference in the classroom almost immediately and asked me what had changed. She no longer kicked kids and bumped into them.

Another thing that helped her was something her therapist did with her- it's called Interactive Metronome. Her left body didn't move at the same rhythm as her right side - it lagged behind (for lack of a better term). With I.M. she had to wear headphones and pads on hands and feet and she had to do coordinated movements to the beat. It was tremendous and when the therapist went away for the summer we continued by having her play with Bop-It (of course that didn't help her feet- just her arms).

Hope this helps - email me if you want to talk more about it. franlitz@gmail.com
-francine

I am LOBPI and I have always had trouble with bumping into things with my left side. I often have bruises that I don't even know how I got them. So not only do I bump things, but I also don't realize I am bumping into them if there isn't someone other indication and the feeling of my arm being hit.