The birth of a child is one of life's most momentous and joyous events. While modern medicine has helped to improve the safety of the mother and child, childbirth can present risks and health challenges that need to be addressed in those critical early months of a baby's development. Conditions that need immediate intervention may include brain injuries, muscular imbalances, postural misalignments, muscle recruitment issues and sensory processing disorders. Fortunately, an exciting new product has been developed specifically for infants born with these sorts of health challenges that surrounds them in a supportive and therapeutic "wearable hug." Rehabmart is proud to be among the first to introduce the Wunzi, a new product from TheraTogs™ that is the only neuromotor  retraining system designed especially for infants from birth to 24 months of age.

  
The Wunzi Infant System is the latest innovation in the TheraTogs™ ULTRA line of wearable therapeutic undergarments  developed by a clinician and teacher with over 35 years experience in the field of pediatric neuromotor rehabilitation. Wunzies help improve and manage body/muscular movement and stability for babies born with neuromuscular, motor, sensory and developmental disorders. Based on the familiar "onesie" infant garment, the Wunzi's simple design is easy to use with imbedded Velcro® tabs instead of the traditional awkward onesie snaps, and a gentle but firm patented elasticized GoldTone™ fabric that is breathable, latex-free and washable. Designed to be worn over a diaper, the Wunzi uses a series of straps that grip the skin and soft tissues in comfort, reposition the body into proper alignment and help retrain neuromuscular systems with daily use. Best of all, the Wunzi can be worn up to 16 hours a day for maximum therapeutic effect on young bodies. Wunzies are meant to be used under the supervision of a therapist or clinician only and are designed for babies 7 to 26 lbs.

The use of a Wunzi can dramatically improve the lives of children born with the following conditions including: hypotonia (low muscle tone due to muscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis), diplegic (affecting mostly legs) or hemiplegic (affecting an arm and leg on one side) cerebral palsy, torticollis (twisted neck), athetosis (involuntary movement of limbs), cerebellar ataxia (difficulty in controlling movement), BPI (Brachial Plexus Injury--nerve damage involving the spine and shoulder) or other developmental and sensory deficits. Worn with regular use, the Wunzi has been shown to increase sensory awareness, retrain trunk muscles, limit excessive trunk motion, improve alignment in the shoulders and hips, stabilize the scapula and improve respiration that can be hindered by a curved spine.

The base Wunzie System includes the core-strengthening Wunzi garment set plus a single TogRite™ Cross Strap to create most posture and torso alignment strapping applications. For those purchasing a Wunzie for the first time, it is recommended that the Wunzi Limb Kit also be purchased. The Wunzi Limb kit includes elastic straps that operate like an exoskeleton to improve body and joint alignment in order to improve motor development. It replaces the previous infant-sized TheraTogs™ Posture and Torso Alignment (PTA) System.

Early intervention in the first few months of a babies' life with a Wunzi wearable therapy system can make a world of difference in the child's future. Studies have shown that if certain conditions are treated early enough, muscular tone, sensory issues and motor control can be vastly improved and corrected. With the simple and elegant design of the Wunzi, it can be as easy as giving a loving hug to your beautiful new baby.

Rachel Huber,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CE