Over the last few months, there have been a few readers asking about the Neurosuit. So I thought I'd share some general info about it. I hope it'll be useful.
The suit is yours to keep upon purchase. The suit comes in various sizes. My son is wearing the smallest size now. We bought it when he was 3 and a half years old. The oldest person whom I know who bought the suit is 20+ years old.
The suit consists of various separate pieces - vest for the upper body; a pair of shorts; two arm bands; two leg bands; a cap (I think for those with poor head control). You can't buy the pieces separately. It comes in a set. There are also lots of bungee cords and small hooks to attach the cords to be suit.
The suit is designed such that it is "expandable" to grow with the child for a few years. A sneaker or sports shoe, has lace on the front to accomodate slightly different sized feet. So too, the suit has lace parts on various parts to accomodate for a growing child. There's lace on the front chest and back of the chest, on the left and right side of the shorts. There are also velcro straps, to accomodate a growing child. Those straps are on the vest, arm and leg bands.
You will have to pay for an assessment and training from the therapist. The therapist will ask you the child's history, and see what is his/her area of need. The therapist will decide on how to hook up the bungee cords according to the child's needs. The therapist will train the caregiver on how to prepare the child's body before putting on the suit. That simply means doing a series of reflex patterning movements or massages. The therapist will work with the child, the way a physiotherapist would, except that the child is wearing the suit. It's good to book a few sessions because there is much to learn and much to ask. The therapist will also come up with a home programme for the caregiver to do with the child. Home programme means homework, exercises you do with the child in the suit when at home/at the park etc.
You could also bring the child in the suit to the therapist for a series of intensive sessions. My son just completed a series of 5 consecutive days of 2 hourly sessions, earlier in Dec.
It's also important to check back with the therapist on a regular basis (3mths/6mths depending), because as the child grows and improves, the hook ups may need to be changed.
I believe the suit works because the cords help to align the body correctly, which then helps the child to use the right muscles. The cords also provide resistance to build up muscle strength - think resistance training for an athelete. Importantly too, the suit itself provides proprioceptive input to the brain which I think is lacking in conventional physiotherapies.
To see results, it's best to use the neurosuit as frequently as possible. As with CP kids in general, it's important to achieve the right frequency, intensity and duration, to bring about progress. In the earlier days after purchasing the suit, my son exercised in the suit almost everyday, twice a day, usually at the park. We chose the park because there's equipment there that I don't have at home.
For more details about the suit, you may contact the therapist directly. His name is Adnan and is contactable via email on: adnanasgerali@yahoo.com.
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