LOCband Lite
Hampshire Orthotics in Romsey offers the LOCband Lite treatment for babies with positional plagiocephaly 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 Lite 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 Lite. LOC is registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as bespoke manufacturer of the LOCband Lite.
For more information about the LOCband Lite, including testimonials of parents of babies who have undergone this treatment, see
www.londonorthotics.co.uk/plagiocephaly/
https://www.facebook.com/hampshireorthotics/
The LOCband Lite 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 Lite is available in a stylish dark 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 Lite helmets 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 channelling the growth to a more desirable shape. It is a pain-free treatment. The band consists of a soft foam layer inside a 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 18 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.
Cranial scanning technology
To provide accurate measurements for each baby's individually manufactured Cranial Remoulding Orthosis, we use a highly advanced laser scanning device in conjunction with state of the art 3D imaging software. This enables LOC to produce each LOCband Lite to the exact specifications required to bring about the best possible improvements to head shape. The scanner uses a flash bulb and is completely safe for the eyes. Please let us know before your appointment if your baby, or anyone attending the clinic, has a history of epilepsy or seizures. The 3D scanner uses a brief flashing light, which we advise avoiding in these circumstances. We can discuss alternative options with you.
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). At your baby's first assessment, if synostosis is suspected, you will be referred to your GP for further investigations.
Craniosynostosis requires medical/surgical intervention and are beyond the scope of Cranial Remoulding Therapy. However, after the sutures are surgically released a LOCband Lite 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 3000 babies.
Copyright statement: Some LOCband Lite images and information relating to Positional Plagiocephaly have been reproduced with the kind permission of the London Orthotic Consultancy who owns the copyright.
Initial Assessment
Making the decision to embark on Cranial Remoulding Therapy can be difficult and naturally causes anxiety for parents; we therefore offer a 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.
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.
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 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/FlatHeadSyndrome/
This group is to raise awareness of flat head syndrome
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 Lite 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.
- 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