Strength Deficit

Weakness is defined as a lack of strength and the inability to generate normal voluntary force in a muscle.[1]  It is a feature of several neuromotor disorders that are characterized by faulty movements, altered muscle tone, and postural and joint malalignments – the latter a causative factor without neural concerns. [2],[3],[4]  Weakness is a also common aspect of pain syndromes.[2],[5]

How TheraTogs Can Help

Strength deficit is mainly due to a lack of use and to muscle couple imbalance related to a use history in the presence of joint malalignment.3 TheraTogs systems can sustain – into daily life – corrections of functioning trunk and limb alignment that can be made either actively or with unforced manual help. Prolonged use of TheraTogs allows the wearer’s muscles to activate and adapt to a more biomechanically and kinesiologically correct condition of functioning alignment.[6]

TheraTogs are often used to address these indications which commonly feature muscle weakness:

• Developmental Delay

• Hypotonia

• Cerebral Palsy – all types

• Brain Injury – Stroke and TBI

• Postural problems

• Balance deficits

• ADHD

• SMD with postural deficits

Which TheraTogs Systems to Use

These TheraTogs systems can support therapy goals for remediating – or preventing – weakness:

• Posture and Torso Alignment (PTA) System

• Full Body System (FBS) – comes with limb strapping components.

• Wunzi System – for infants and young preschoolers.

Applicable Science and Therapy Approaches

Sciences that apply to the management of strength deficit:

• Biomechanics
• Kinesiology
• Physiologic adaptation of bone and soft tissues to use history

Therapy approaches that can be used to address strength deficit:

• Movement System [Impairment Syndrome] Analysis and Management

References

1. Sanger TD, Chen D, Delgado MR, et al. and the Taskforce on Childhood Motor Disorders. 2006. Definition and Classification of Negative Motor Signs in Childhood. Pediatrics . 118: 2159-2167.

2. Sahrmann SA.  2010. Movement System Impairment Syndromes of the Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

3. Bohannon RW. 1986. Strength of lower limb related to gait velocity and cadence in stroke patients. Physiother Can. 38: 204-206.

4. Wiley ME, Damiano DL. 1998. Lower-extremity strength profiles in spastic cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol.40(2): 100-7.

5. Sahrmann SA. 2002 Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

6. Maguire C et al. 2012 BMC Neurology. 12:18 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/12/18