Epidermolysis Bullosa Home Care Programme Expertise children

The exercises described thus far can often not or hardly be carried out by young children. Either because the technique to carry them out is too difficult or because the young child does not understand what to do.

In order to let the child still move properly the following exercises may be carried out:

Pick up objects:

• Let the child pick up things from the floor. When stooping the child exercises the knees and the feet / ankles.

Swimming

• In the swimming pool the child can move more freely in the water. Try to find a more quiet time. Consult the doctor in attendance first in the case of open and/or infected wounds.

In consultation with the physiotherapist there might be other possibilities such as:

Balls-bath:

• In a balls-bath a child can move freely without bumping or rubbing. A balls-bath is a basin filled with small, soft balls. Such a bath induces children to make certain movements, for example to sit on their knees. In addition the sense of touch is stimulated thoroughly.

Exercising with a large ball:

• A physiotherapist can teach the parents / carers how to carry out exercises on the so-called Bobathball with the child. The child may, for example, lie with its belly on the ball. When the ball rolls forward, the child has to stretch out its hands to touch the ground. The child may also sit on the ball and pull up its legs to exercise the knees and hips.

Literature used:

A guideline to physiotherapy for parents of children with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, DEBRA, October 1994.

Illustrations by H. Brian Hough. Borrowed from: A guideline to physiotherapy for parents of children with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, DEBRA, October 1994.