Mollii Suit an Assistive Device by Inerventions

Mollii Suit by Inerventions

Just when my hope tank is starting to empty The Family Hope Center fills it up again! We are very excited about this new device available to further Kevin in his development.

Kevin’s hyprocure surgery with Dr. Joe had been scheduled and rescheduled several times so it seems it was destined for us to be in the area for Kevin's surgery at the same time that Inerventions from Sweden would be at FHC. At first it didn’t seem possible to fit in a visit to FHC while we would be in the area but FHC was persistent in getting us to show up. They even called Dr. Joe to rearrange our Friday pre op appointment with him so that we could have this opportunity with Inerventions. And boy are we glad we did!

Matthew Newell at FHC describes Inerventions as “a dynamic innovative program that balances the flexor and extensor muscles rapidly and allows children (and adults) to access the improved neurology that we are developing in the brain. As we develop the brain, the balance between the flexors and extensors becomes the next major issue. The mobility program helps this substantially, but the mollii suit will dramatically speed up the process by as much as 40%. This has already helped kids crawl independently 3 to 4 times more distance, hold the quad position, creep easier, and walk with much, much better quality, faster. It is medication and surgery free and also helps hold the hips and spine in place to prevent scoliosis and hip dislocations.”

What is a Mollii Suit? Here is how www.inerventions.se explains it.

• Mollii is a unique assistive device for people with spasticity, motor disability, increased or decreased muscular tension.
• Mollii provides electrical stimulation via a specially designed garment, thus helping the body to relax and increase movement, function and activity.
• Mollii is used for spasticity and increased or decreased muscular tension. It prevents and counteracts different forms of muscle shortening and rigidity. The assistive device helps the user to regain control over muscular tension. 
• Mollii is an assistive device for people with spasticity and other forms of motor impairment due to cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, brain damage, spinal cord injury or other neurological injuries. It can also be used to alleviate chronic pain.
• Mollii is a functional garment that consists of a pair of trousers, a jacket and a detachable control unit which sends electrical signals to the user via electrodes on the inside of the garment. The suit has 58 electrodes which can be combined in various ways. It has a control unit which is individually programmed for each user. Inerventions uses a computer program to adapt the active electrodes and the intensity (which muscles are to be activated by means of current). The settings are then saved in the Mollii control unit, making it simple for the device to be used at home.
• Mollii uses low level electric current to produce basic tension in the musculature. The current stimulates the antagonist to the spastic muscle. If, for example, the biceps is spastic, the triceps is stimulated which in turn makes the biceps relax. Relaxing the muscle enables active movement and a gradual improvement in function. The physiological mechanism is called reciprocal inhibition.
• Mollii is a functional assistive device that is designed to be used in the home environment. It is simple to use. A single push of the button starts muscle stimulation, which proceeds automatically for 60 minutes. The device is used for approximately one hour, 3-4 times a week. It is best used together with activity and movement. The effect is individual and can remain for up to 48 hours. 

Kevin was able to wear one of the Mollii suits for one hour. We were fortunate to be the only family there on Friday afternoon (the day before Kevin’s hyprocure surgery) and so we were able to speak extensively with Inerventions and get many of our initial questions answered.

After having the Mollii suit on for about 10 minutes, Kevin’s left arm and hand became relaxed and open as opposed to tight and fisted. After about 20 minutes wearing the suit, we asked Kevin to crawl, creep, and walk. The most remarkable change was seeing Kevin put his heel down when walking along with his arms down at his side as opposed to being held close to his chest. And to our surprise, check out the video below of Kevin’s left arm action four days after wearing the Mollii suit.

Kevin walking at FHC with Mollii Suit on April 11, 2014

Check out this left arm action

4 days after having the Mollii Suit on for the first time. 

After our opportunity with the Mollii Suit and seeing the positive changes that Kevin experienced we now want to purchase this assistive device so that Kevin can receive further benefits. We also came to the conclusion that since Kevin had the hyprocure surgery which is to correct the rolling and turning in of his feet and stabilize the ankle. That being able to begin using the Mollii suit before he begins walking again after the surgery seems like it would be ideal to begin walking with the corrections from the hyprocure surgery and the additional benefits from the Mollii suit that the surgery was not able to correct. We are currently in the process of communicating with Inerventions to answer a few pending questions and then proceed with this next big and promising purchase for our Super Kid Kevin. I think he is going to need a cape with his new Super Suit!

Mollii Suit with Inerventions Team from Sweden