We started OT for Josiah & have learned the Brushing Protocol using the Willbarger Approach. The ideal scenerio will be that it accomplishes overcoming his Sensory Issues, which is WHY he is IN Occupational Therapy . I am not getting my hopes up, but I DO see some progress, just using it this 1st week!!
The term "brushing" does not adequately reflect the amount of pressure that is exerted against the skin with the movement of the brush. A more appropriate analogy would be that it is like giving someone a deep massage using a surgical brush. The use of the brush in a slow and methodical manner provides consistent deep-pressure input to a wide area of the skin surface on the body. Ms. Wilbarger has found and has recommended a specific surgical brush to be most effective. The face and stomach are never brushed.
Following the "massage" stage, the child receives gentle compressions to the shoulders, elbows, wrists/fingers, hips, knees/ankles, and sternum. These compressions provide substantial proprioceptive input. Ms. Wilbarger feels that it is critical that joint compressions follow the use of the surgical brush, and if there is no time to complete both steps, then compressions should not be administered.
The complete routine should only take about three minutes. This technique can be incorporated into a sensory diet schedule. The procedure is initially repeated every ninety minutes. After a period of time, the frequency is reduced. Eventually the procedure can be stopped, but gains can be maintained.
http://www.thetherapyplace.net/newsletter/3_2.htm
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I did this with Sarah for a while. In her case, the only thing that really helped was time and maturity. But I have heard wonderful things from other families who have had good results with this! Did you find a good OT in the area?
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