Provide a Posture Care Clinic for Mexican Children

In February our team of clinicians in Puerto Vallarta visited the Instituto Nuevo Amanecer in Monterrey, Mexico. They spent 4 days at the Centro de Atencion Postural (CAP) where they received an intensive training course in posture care. The CAP is one of the only specialist centres in Mexico offering posture assessments, expert advice and equipment for children with complex physical disabilities. The centre was founded in 2004 by British Occupational Therapist Sarah Davies. She went on to set up MeDICT, a UK registered Charity, which has funded the development of the CAP over the years. They now manage themselves independently and employ a large number of therapy, technical and engineering staff and manufacture products on site.

The main aim of our visit to the centre was for our staff, Nadia (Physio), Oscar (Technician) and Laura (Therapy Assistant) to develop their skills in the assessment of individuals with complex physical disabilities. We also wanted to re-establish links with the CAP, as they have so much knowledge and experience of posture care. Moving forwards, we have the opportunity to purchase much needed specialist posture equipment through CAP. At present we are focusing on developing our posture care service in Puerto Vallarta and having access to equipment made in Mexico, such as specialist wheelchairs and standing frames, is key to being able to provide an effective and sustainable service.

The team had a fantastic 4 days in Monterey and returned to Puerto Vallarta full of enthusiasm and ideas. They are very excited to put their new skills and knowledge into practice.

Our Physio Nadia said:

“I am very grateful for this opportunity to learn and expand our knowledge and to be able to provide better and more appropriate assistance to children and adults with complex disabilities. I feel much more confident and I am really excited to start working on this project as I know it will make a huge difference to the lives of people living with poor postures in Puerto Vallarta”  

The team completed group training as well as spending time 1:1 with the trainers, learning skills within their specific roles. Laura, our therapy assistant, spent time with the upholsterers as part of her role within our clinic is to help with repairing and restoring wheelchairs. This includes making new backrests, harnesses, and cushions. This was really important for her as in line with developing our services, Laura will be making posture cushions and sleep systems, which will be used to support individuals with their lying positions at home.

 Laura said:

  “In the upholstery area I learnt a lot about how to make better chest and pelvic harnesses as well as the cushions. I also learnt how to carefully sew the fabric with the industrial machines and also the best way to stretch the fabric to sew it. They showed me the best types of materials which should be used and how to measure for each part of the wheelchair. I found the whole experience really interesting and felt that I learnt a lot of new skills which I am excited to put into action.”

 Therapies Unite will soon be receiving a new industrial sewing machine for the Postural Management Clinic to support this work, which has kindly been funded by Blatchford (UK).

This year we are running a pilot project to demonstrate, with clear evidence, the impact that the right posture care input can have. Using this evidence we will be looking for companies, organisations and individuals in Mexico and the UK to start sponsoring children for their posture care needs. Five children will be selected for this project and we are currently looking for funding for these individuals. Each child selected will receive an initial assessment which will include a review of their posture care needs and a full posture review by the team. The child will then receive the equipment they need which may include, but not necessarily all, of the following; a wheelchair (modular), standing frame and a positioning system. The wheelchair and standing frame will be purchased from the CAP and the positioning system made in-house. Alongside the equipment the children, their families/caregivers will receive basic training focusing on the importance of posture care as well as specific training focusing on the equipment being provided and its use. Families will also receive written instructions and information booklets to support the training.

Overall it was a really beneficial trip for the team and a great start to our planned project for this year. If you would like to know more about how you can support this project, or would be interested in sponsoring a child, please do get in touch.

Thank you so much to all our regular and new donors on GlobalGiving. Your donations really do contribute directly towards changing the lives of disabled children in Puerto Vallarta and we couldn’t run this project without your generous donations. From all of us at Therapies Unite –Muchas Gracias!