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| Current topic: Management - Acute Forms |
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Swimming with Type I |
| Our 5 month old daughter has Type I SMA, but is still fairly healthy at present. We would like to take her swimming - as part of her physio - but also as something we can do as a family with her 2 year old brother. Can anyone advise if this is safe, or would we be increasing the risk of chest infections etc. |
| Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:15 pm |
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4 Replies |
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Re: Swimming with Type I |
| Hi Janet. I can't comment on safety - you need to discuss that with your physio/GP. However I think going swimming together as a family is a great idea. From our expierince with Alisha, we tried to find a pool that's quiet enough as she didn't like being splashed - ideally private. We found two - one was at the children's hospice (which we can't recommend highly enough as a place to go). The other was on holiday in a hotel's private pool - you could try ringing a few hotels near to you? One other thing to try would be to ask your physio if the hospital has a hydrotherapy pool. Hopefully one or all will allow you all to go in. Have fun. |
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| Sun Oct 31, 2004 10:29 am |
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Re: Swimming with Type I |
| Hi, re: swimming. my 6yr old has type II we go swimming in our local baby/training pool where the temp is never below 37oC. However we only go in the summertime to reduce risk of chest infections. We learnt our lesson the hard way & spent 2 weeks in hospital with pneumonia. Hope this helps. |
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Re: Swimming with Type I |
| Our daughter Sophie was one year old yesterday and has SMA Type 1. She has had hydroptherapy at our local hospital since 7 months. I had to push for it at first, but she absolutely loves it. The physio team are fantastic and she has a slot once a week. We also take her in the jacuzzi at Little Bridge House hospice. The other thing we have done is purchase an aqua massaging bath mat from Magic Planet, which cost £200 but well worth it as Sophie can now have a jacuzzi every day! We put a bath seat in (there is one you can get from John Lewis for about £8), which means she can bath in the big bath,as opposed to a baby bath. this also means she can enjoy bathtime with her brother. We haven't taken her to a public pool, just because we haven't managed to get round to it. But we do give her two baths a day - one in the morning to get her going after her sleep, with the jacuzzi, and one in the evening, usually with her brother as it's a good oportunity for them to play together. To be honest, going to a local shop increases the chance of a chest infection. I would say, go for it - obviously give time afterwards to return to her normal body temperature before going outdoors. Also push for hydrotherapy at your local hospital. Either go through the senior physio and/or your consultant. If you have a community physio then also ask them about what types of thing you can do in the pool with your daughter. Within the obvious limits I would say do as much as you can. My opinion is that your gut instinct tells you when you are pushing too hard, but we have done loads of things with Sophie and really haven't regretted it. The thing I would regret is not trying something out. |
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Re: Swimming with SMA/Equipment |
As a swimmer with SMA I have always swum & so did my younger sister. The only thing I have found it increasingly difficult to cope with is a drop in body temperature. To solve this I use a emergency blanket (it is the evaporation of water that cools you down.) The other thing is to use a hair dryer to dry off or use a wooly hat.
But there are companies such as www.swimshop.co.uk or www.mailsports.co.uk that have a special suit that helps to maintain a young childs body temerature.
Good luck and enjoy. |
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