Spasticity in under 19s: management

Orthoses

Your child may be offered an orthosis to help with their spasticity. Orthoses are devices that fit onto the body and can help improve posture; walking; position of the limbs when lying, sitting, or standing; and using the arms, wrists and hands.

When the healthcare professionals looking after your child are considering whether your child would benefit from an orthosis they should discuss the benefits and risks with you. They will also take other things into account, such as whether it would cause problems with hygiene, or be unacceptable to your child because of its appearance.

If you (and/or your child) agree that your child should use an orthosis, the healthcare team should discuss possible treatment goals with you. The orthosis should be designed specially for your child, and advice will be given on how to fit and wear it, for how long, and when to wear it. For example, sometimes orthoses can be worn at night. Your child's healthcare team should advise you that if the orthosis causes pain, and this is not helped even after making adjustments or repositioning it, you (or your child) should remove it. You should also be informed about when and where to ask for further help.

Every time the healthcare team sees your child they should check that the orthosis is still acceptable to your child and not causing any problems, such as discomfort or pain. They should also check whether the orthosis still fits properly, is in good condition, is still helping, and is being used correctly. If your child wears an orthosis at night their healthcare team should check whether it's disturbing their sleep.