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Ultraflex
introduces you to a new treatment program that provides
a viable treatment protocol for spastic hemiplegia (hemiparesis).
 Ultraflex
makes custom braces for the physically disabled. FirstFlex™
is a treatment protocol, offered by Ultraflex, that combines
a custom molded brace with neuromuscular electrical stimulation
(NMES).
This
treatment program is a conservative option for children with upper-extremity cerebral palsy induced spastic hemiplegia
(hemiparesis).
Here
you will discover valuable new information for patients,
parents, and caregivers of children with spastic hemiplegia:
- Find
out about the benefits children have experienced
from the breakthrough FirstFlex™ treatment program.
- Learn
about the UltraKidz Team for children with spastic
hemiplegia (hemiparesis) and how a child can become a member.
- Gain
more information about FirstFlex™: research and consider a reality check.
What
Benefits To Expect From FirstFlex™?
- Improvement
in reach, grasp and pinch.
- Carryover
improvement in activities of daily life such as hair
combing, dressing and play activities. Long term carryover
is unknown.
- Improved
strength.
To
discover more about these improvements in children with spastic
hemiplegia see the summary of
the Kleinert Institute's research studies.
The
Ultrakidz Team And How To Join
If
you are currently a patient in the FirstFlex™ treatment
program, we want you to join our team. Simply send
us an e-mail saying you want to join the team. Include
your name, address, phone number, and your age and also the
name of your orthotist.
Or
you can fill out a very short
form on the "Contact Us" page.
Membership
Privileges - Exclusively available to Ultrakidz team members
- Your
Video On The web - send us a VHS video with one or more
of the following: (video footage should be shot at a distance
of 3 to 10 feet from the subject )
1.
You involved in a favorite activity
2. Your comments about how FirstFlex™ is helping
you
3. Mom or Dad's comments about the program
4. You shooting your best 3 point basketball shot
5. You and your pet together
6. You participating in a craft project
We
will edit your video and put a clip of it on our web page.
We will then notify you so that you can contact your friends
and family with the exact address as to where they can
view your video.
To
submit a video please send it to Ultraflex Systems at the
address on the bottom of this page. Mark it "Attention
Ultrakidz."
We
want our Ultrakidz Team to help us create unique holiday cards
for special holidays. To participate, use a full 8 ½
by 11 sized sheet of white paper and design a card that we
can send to our customers at various holidays. Be sure to
sign your name on your card! You can pick any holiday you
wish.
Send
your card to Ultraflex Systems at the address on the bottom
of this page. Mark it "Attention Ultrakidz."
If
you have other ideas for Ultrakidz activities, we'd love to
hear about them. E-mail your ideas to ultrakidz@ultraflexsystems.com.
About
Jake Gill - One of our Ultrakidz
 Jake is ten years old and currently a patient in the FirstFlex™
treatment program. Listen to what Jake
has to say about the program in a short video you can
download. His mother also
offers her thoughts on the program in a brief video
to download.
The
FirstFlex™ Treatment Program For
Children With Spastic Hemiplegia:
Research and Reality Check
About
the Research
The retrospective study comprised
a period of 7 years. The prospective
study was conducted over a two-year period. In both
studies, patients showed marked improvement when using
combined Ultraflex custom bracing and neuromuscular electrical
stimulation.
Reality
Check
This
treatment program for children with spastic hemiplegia is difficult.
We
do not want to create false hopes in parents, patients, or caregivers.
In order to benefit from the protocol there must be a commitment
to two therapy sessions daily and wearing of the brace at night
to sleep. If you are a parent or caregiver, you can likely anticipate
that your child will often not want to do the therapy. That
is normal.
We
strongly recommend that patients and caregivers discuss the
regimen and make a mutual commitment to undertake the protocol
for a defined period of time.
The "Answers To Your Questions" page offers creative ways to address this issue and also provides
specific details about the program.
You
can download brief videos that show you more about the FirstFlex™ treatment program
for children with spastic hemiplegia (hemiparesis).
Contact
us with your specific questions about the FirstFlex™
treatment program for spastic hemiplegia or ask us to send you
the research studies or the "Parent Overview Video"
and/or the "Clinician Overview Video." |
