Meet Skylar Henkes – a two-year-old girl from West Virginia, USA, who lives with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and whose life has been transformed by a Jenx Monkey Stander.
This month, we are marking the Monkey Stander’s 25th year in production in a number of ways, including by telling moving and inspirational stories of the children and families whose lives it has changed during the last quarter of a decade.
Two-year-old Skylar, from Princeton, suffered a severe hypoxic brain injury at birth and was later diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She received a GJ feeding tube when she was only a month old and has also had several gastro surgeries.
The youngster’s parents have since talked up the role which the specialist equipment has played in Skylar’s development.
For the past eight months, Skylar has used a Monkey Stander, an adjustable standing system designed to provide positioning support for children aged between nine months and four years. The Stander is available in the UK from Jiraffe, and in the USA from Adaptive Imports.
First produced in 1995, the Monkey Stander revolutionised standing support equipment, with more than 8,000 produced and distributed worldwide since.
Skylar’s mum, Autumn, said: “Our Monkey Stander has taught Skylar that she can use her body in ways that she previously was not able, which we believe will improve her confidence in other aspects of her development.
“We enjoy that the Monkey Stander takes into consideration more than just the physical aspects – it is more than just a tool to work on weight bearing. It gives the child the opportunity to play and make the experience more enjoyable, with its bowl insert and overhead toy bar.
“This has also allowed Skylar the freedom to learn how to hold up her head and use her arms in a standing position – without making it seem like work.
“We adore our Stander and the benefits that have come along with its use!”
Dan Limb, Divisional Director at Jenx, said: “We’re so pleased to hear that our Monkey Stander continues to change lives all over the world.
“The Monkey Stander is a gentle introduction to standing for very young children and adapts as they grow, giving all children a chance to increase their tolerance and grow up to live healthier, happier lives.”
Typical therapeutic interventions including passive stretches and orthotic splints can often have little effect or long-term benefits, meaning that management of a person’s posture while in bed, sitting and standing has long-lasting positive impact.
Managing and preventing damage occurring is the basis of postural management – which is where the Jenx Monkey Stander comes in.
Richard Harvey, Clinical Training Manager, said: “The more immobile a child/adult is, the more at risk they are of developing damage and further complications. This lack of movement really is the root of most, if not all issues relating to postural management.
“Movement is essential – active and/or passive, it must be balanced and symmetrical, as postural stability forms the basis of functional activity. Posture influences most, if not all, bodily functions, as well as many positive neurological phenomena, for example spasms.
“It is known that a child that adopts a weight bearing standing position as soon as possible (around 12 months), has better outcomes in terms of hip development. This is why it is crucial to assist children to stand who cannot do it for themselves, in order to increase the chances of a pain free future.”
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