LOCband and LOClite
Hampshire Orthotics in Romsey offers both the LOCband and LOClite treatment for babies with positional plagiocephay and brachycephaly.
Cranial Remoulding Therapy
If repositioning techniques have not brought about sufficient improvement in your baby's head shape, then Cranial Remoulding Therapy is an option. This should not be considered until the infant is at least 3 to 4 months old.
The LOCband cranial remoulding orthosis is manufactured by The London Orthotic Consultancy (LOC) in Kingston, UK. It is manufactured to strict standards and guidelines. The clinicians involved in the treatment of babies are also closely involved with the design and manufacture of the LOCband. LOC is registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as bespoke manufacturer of the LOCband and LOClite.
For more information about the LOCband and LOClite, including testimonials of parents of babies who have undergone this treatment, see
www.londonorthotics.co.uk/plagiocephaly/
https://www.facebook.com/hampshireorthotics/
The LOCband and LOClite helmets:
- are manufactured individually for each baby to the clinician's exact specifications
- are manufactured to strict guidelines and high quality standards
- are designed and perfected by clinicians after years of personal experience in treating plagiocephaly and brachycephaly
- have a proven record of success
- have a soft to the touch foam lining
- the LOCband is available in many different colours and patterns or can be custom painted. The LOClite is available in a stylish grey or can be custom painted.
Painted helmets are really fun and can be customised to whatever you like!
https://www.facebook.com/custompaintedbabyhelmets/
How Does Cranial Remoulding Work?
The LOCband and LOClite are non-invasive and work by applying a gentle constant pressure over the areas of your baby’s skull which are most prominent while allowing unrestricted growth over the flattened areas, thereby chanelling the growth to a more desirable shape. It is a pain-free treatment. The band consists of a soft foam layer inside a thermoplastic or 3D printed shell. This allows for frequent adjustments during growth and gently guides your baby’s skull into a more symmetrical shape.
Treatment is most effective in babies between 4-7 months and takes between 3-6 months to complete. Routinely babies up to the age of 14 months can be treated very successfully but treatment may take longer (6-9 months) and results may not be as good as with the younger babies. It is possible to treat older babies and the LOCband has been used on babies up to 24 months which has resulted in improvement of head shape.
Difference between LOCband and LOClite
The LOCband is the original remoulding helmet and is made from polypropylene plastic with a soft foam lining and a one-sided opening. The lining can be made variable thickness which is ground away as the head improves in shape. This ensures that even the most severe head shapes can have all their correction in one helmet. Ventilation holes over the relief areas can be large. The helmet is made over a modified model of your baby’s head which you can take home and use to practise putting on and taking off the helmet before you do this for real.
The LOClite is a more recent design and is made by 3D printing. The foam liner is a uniform thickness and there is often a double opening (on each side). There are multiple small ventilation holes over the relief area. The foam lining is ground away as the head improves in shape. For very severe head shapes where a lot of correction is needed, a second helmet may be required to get the maximum correction.
At your assessment appointment you will be able to see and feel the different helmet types and discuss the best option for your baby.
Plagiocephaly - time in band 6 months
Brachycephaly - time in band 4 months
Cranial Scanning Technology
To provide accurate measurements for each baby's individually manufactured Cranial Remoulding Orthosis, we use highly advanced laser scanning devices in conjunction with state of the art 3D imaging software. This enables LOC to produce each LOCband or LOClite to the exact specifications required to bring about the best possible improvements to head shape.
Artec MH 3D Scanner
The MH 3D Scanner has proved to be particularly popular with users that want to
digitise the human form, in particular human faces. The Scanner uses a flash
bulb and is completely safe for the eyes.
For more information about Artec 3D Scanners:
Before treatment showing top view of head
After 3.7 months of LOCband
Craniosynostosis
The LOCband and LOClite are not indicated in cases of craniosynostosis (premature fusing of the sutures of the skull) or hydrocephalus (an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain).
These conditions require medical/surgical intervention and are beyond the scope of Cranial Remoulding Therapy. However, after the sutures are surgically released a LOCband or LOClite may be utilised to further shape the skull and protect the operative site.
FOR BABIES UNDER 12 MONTHS AT THE START OF TREATMENT, HAMPSHIRE ORTHOTICS WILL GIVE A 100% REFUND IF THERE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE ADVISED TREATMENT TIME.
The LOCband has been used successfully to treat over 2250 babies and the LOClite over 500 babies.
Copyright statement: The LOCband and LOClite images and information relating to Positional Plagiocephaly have been reproduced with the kind permission of the London Orthotic Consultancy who owns the copyright.
Free Initial Assessment
Making the decision to embark on Cranial Remoulding Therapy can be difficult and naturally causes anxiety for parents; we therefore offer a Free, No Obligation initial assessment. During the consultation Lucy will establish the severity of your baby's head shape, discuss the treatment options and inform you whether a Cranial Remoulding Orthosis is appropriate.
Where can I get more information?
If you would like an opinion on your baby’s head shape you can e-mail any pictures to
lucybest@hampshire-orthotics.co.uk
Please do not attempt to e-mail files over 10MB in size.
To book a Free No Obligation consultation or for more information, call us on:
023 8000 5505
Plagiocephaly - time in band 3.5 months
headshape before and after treatment.
Cost of LOCband treatment
see link https://www.hampshire-orthotics.co.uk/c/prices
Funding Assistance:
If parents have difficulties with the funding of treatment, Headstart4babies, a UK based charity (registered number 1112256) may be able offer financial assistance.
Headstart4babies http://www.headstart4babies.co.uk/ is run by Philip Saich and Karen Laker, whose baby Ben was successfully treated with the use of a Cranial Orthosis (helmet) for severe plagiocephaly in 2004/2005.
They offer families on low incomes help with funding to allow them to proceed with treatment. Along with the trustees of the charity they are also able to assist families in fundraising activities, to benefit both the charity and
to fund treatment for their own baby. They are also now able to Gift Aid donations made to them by UK tax payers. You can e-mail them by clicking this link Headstart4babies
If you wish to show your support for headstart4babies you can make a donation at their Just Giving web Page:
http://www.justgiving.com/h4b
Online Support Groups
There is an increasing number of online Facebook support groups and information web sites. Most of the discussion groups where parents can chat on line about plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and scaphocephaly are moderated groups, offering peer support.
They are not run or organised by qualified professionals but provide a very good source of information and offer excellent links to further resources such as published research papers and web sites.
You will most probably have to register with most of the discussion groups in order to post questions or even view messages.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/603008259868142/
Plagiocephaly Support/advice UK
Support group for families in the UK who are thinking of helmet treatment, are in treatment or have finished treatment
https://www.facebook.com/Plagiocephaly.Awareness.Support/
Support group of individuals and families who have experienced plagiocephaly through our loved ones. It can be a scary and confusing time, and we are here to help guide you through your journey. USA based
https://www.facebook.com/FlatHeadSyndrome/
This group is to raise awareness of flat head syndrome
https://www.cappskids.org/
Craniosynostosis and positional plagiocephaly support, American charitable status support group. Started by a mother whose child had craniosynostosis to offer support and information to other families.
You can also read about user’s experiences on our Facebook pages
https://www.facebook.com/hampshireorthotics/
https://www.facebook.com/LOCPlagiocephalyClinic/
Please note that at the time of writing this information all of the web links were checked and fully functioning. We can not be held responsible if any of these links become broken.
ALL babies that have completed the LOCband and LOClite treatment have achieved measurable improvements to their head shape regardless of their age or severity of Plagiocephaly.
Why should I choose Hampshire Orthotics for my baby’s cranial remoulding treatment?
Our clinic provides:
- Lucy Best who is an orthotist with many years of experience in all orthotic treatment including cranial remoulding helmet therapy
- Full moneyback guarantee for babies who start treatment under 12 months old if there is no significant improvement in head shape
- the option of LOCband or LOClite which have a proven record of success in the treatment of flat head syndrome
- a relaxed and baby friendly space with toys and space to play (siblings welcome too)
- free car parking directly outside the clinic
- A clinic dog (Bailey) if you like dogs (he can be put away if you prefer him not to be present)
If you would like to book an appointment, please contact us admin@hampshire-orthotics.co.uk or phone 023 8000 5505