Physical Difficulties (PHY DIFF)
Children and adults with physical difficulties (PHY DIFF) can struggle to engage with the world around them; these conditions prevent students from fully participating with their classmates and isolate elderly people from their family, friends, and wider society. Whether an individual has experienced mobility issues from birth due to neurological disorders or acquired physical difficulties in later life following spinal cord or brain injuries, providing them with the appropriate assistive equipment is crucial to their development and quality of life.
Working closely with occupational therapists, Experia USA has produced numerous pieces of sensory equipment to support those with PHY DIFF, improving the accessibility of educational or healthcare settings while nurturing their confidence and motor development.
Examples of Physical Difficulties
Physical difficulties are conditions that impair bodily function, such as movement, coordination, and limited endurance during everyday activities. These impairments could be congenital, meaning they present from birth, or could develop in later life as a result of physical injury, cognitive decline, or muscles weakening with age, known as sarcopenia. One of the most common physical difficulties is cerebral palsy (CP), which primarily impacts the muscle tone and coordination of those with the condition. Maintaining posture or balance demands constant effort from individuals with CP, while controlled movements such as walking present severe challenges.
As for physical difficulties that develop in later life, spinal cord injuries can disrupt communication between the brain and body, frequently leading to partial or complete loss of movement and sensation below the injury site. This can significantly limit the independence of individuals with these injuries, requiring constant care and access to mobility assistive equipment to support them in their daily lives. By contrast, individuals with muscular dystrophy experience progressive muscle weakness due to numerous genetic defects, gradually losing the strength and stamina required to perform simple physical tasks such as walking and standing.
Assistive Equipment for PHY DIFF
Supporting children or adults with physical difficulties is as much about building confidence as facilitating their gross motor development. Anxiety about falling or sustaining further injuries can discourage individuals from testing their perceived limits. Incorporating sensory soft play into a space can help alleviate these concerns by providing a safe and supportive environment that encourages users to explore their abilities with confidence, knowing they are protected from harm should they fall.
We appreciate that living with mobility issues can place additional strain on the muscles and joints, which can be incredibly painful. By reclining on our vibroacoustic platform, users can receive genuine pain relief while developing a greater sense of their own body, owing to the penetrating vibrations stimulating their parasympathetic nervous system.
For users who struggle with fine motor coordination, the malleable threads of our fiber optics and chunky pegs of the PixelPop interactive light panel allow users to develop their dexterity, twisting the threads in their hands or inserting the pegs into the wall panel to achieve unique mulitcolored patterns.
Choosing the right adaptive equipment and assistive devices for your multisensory environment can be confusing, especially when your intended user has only recently developed mobility issues and you are still gauging their needs. For this reason, Experia USA offers free room design advice to all customers, helping them to select the right products and configure their space to maximize its developmental potential. For expert guidance on your sensory space, or for more insights on the needs of a loved one with physical difficulties, please call us toll-free at 1-800-882-4045 or contact us via email.
