responses: post polio cap

responses: post polio cap

John Wallace, CO

Dear Listserve members,
       The following is my original post and a summary of the responses.
Thanks again to all who responded and took the time to share their experiences
and suggestions. This is a great example of the listserve working as intended!

Here is an unusual one: I have a 60 year old female client who has left side
weakness due to polio at an early age. She wears a left KAFO and has a
paralyzed left upper extremity. Last week I saw her for a follow-up to her KAFO
and she asked if I could provide a shoulder cap so that her clothes would fit
right. The polio has resulte in left shoulder and upper arm atrophy and her
clothes don't fit well. She said that she has tried the shoulder pads that come
with some of the women's outfits, but that these slip out of place and don't
do the job. She asked me to make a latex shoulder cap that she could wear and
would make the left side of her clothes fit like they are supposed to do
(match the right side.)

I have some ideas and have discussed these with her, but I suggested that I
post her concerns and needs to the listserve and see if we could gather any
ideas from the collective wisdom and experience of the profession before we come
up with a plan. So, does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance for
your responses. I will post summaries. Keever Wallace, CO

Have made very lightweight soft foam shoulder caps in the past. Easy to make
and adjust...inexpensive.

Hi, I used to make up littler shoulder pads pedelin covered
inside and out with 3 mm pelite for forequarter patients who did
not want to wear a limb but wanted their clothes to sit
correctly......I feel in your case you may have an issue with
arm lenths if the shoulder is subluxing....ie the upper shoulder
profile looks correct as a match with the pad in place, but the
arm hangs low and so it will hang out of the sleeve and hence
these may need lengthening.