For years we've been intensely working on stretching Cooper's arms out. With all of his spasticity (tight muscles) it seems the arms were the toughest to combat. About 4 years ago he got an internal pump placed that releases muscle relaxing medication and we positioned it so that it would affect the arms as much as possible, but they still became contracted (lost range of motion). About 2 years ago Cooper had an additional surgery where his nerves to his biceps were cut so that his arms could be stretched out. This was a difficult decision because this is a permanent procedure, but in the end we felt that he needed something drastic to occur if he ever had any hope of using his arms. Contractures can also be permanent and not doing something would be just as limiting, after all... who could use their arms with their hands stuck up by her face? By cutting the nerves it would take away a large part of the pain associated with stretching his arms out and we were told his other arm muscles would pick up the functions of the biceps once they were strengthened so we went ahead with the surgery. We spent the next year following the surgery stretching and bracing his arms with no improvement.
Then a wonderful combination of therapies proved successful. Following Cooper's stem cell treatment he began receiving Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments at Advanced Hyperbarics and a month of intensive physical therapy at Polfit. Among other goals, Polfit worked intently on stretching Cooper's arms. Heating, massaging, stretching and bracing. Measurements were taken at the beginning of the month of therapy and at the end. Cooper had a 10 degree improvement in each leg (as they are also slightly contracted), but the real improvement was in his arms. Cooper's left arm - the tighter arm - had a 25 DEGREE IMPROVEMENT in range! Cooper's right arm had a 45 DEGREE IMPROVEMENT! 4 years of surgeries and therapy had produced nothing and then this! It has to be this combination... The cells gave him the building blocks, the HBOT enhanced their effect and POLFIT did the work to produce results!
Cooper continues to attend maintenance therapy at Polfit and show progress. Just this week he was on the Gazelle at Polfit in their Body Weight Assisted Support System. His arms and hands were so relaxed he was able to lightly grasp the handles on his own... this was never possible before. His legs were moved through exercises at the same time and he smiled throughout the workout. He enjoys moving and is becoming more and more involved in his rehabilitation. Polfit says this is the trend they see among their patients: cognitive improvements come along with the physical and patients are able to do more to help in the recovery process.
Cooper also goes through therapy on his home program. With help from his wonderful nurse, Lyly, Cooper's arms are massaged and stretched throughout the day, braces are applied and he continues to ride his Quadriciser. He is schedule to attend another month of intensive therapy at Polfit in the new year!
