Sensory Integration/Occupational Therapy Recommendations

BRUSHING/JOINT COMPRESSION TECHNIQUE:

Purpose: to provide deep tactile input to help organize sensory system, increase focus and level of alertness. It is best to provide technique daily every two hours and prior to activities that may facilitate fear, anxiety, or resistance.

Item needed: surgical brush (may substitute by using bath brush (at Dollar Tree) that looks just like the surgical brush or use opened flat palm side of your hand)

Procedure:

1. Using surgical brush, apply firm continuous deep pressure as you brush from the finger tips toward shoulder. Repeat this ten times, ( as tolerated). Always start at the fingers and end at the shoulder. (Avoid brushing face and stomach).

2. After brushing, apply deep joint compression to shoulder, elbow, & wrist. Make sure child remains still, joints are in alignment. Hold joint and apply pressure for the count of ten.

3. Lastly, apply joint compression to both shoulders at the same time, on top of the head, and lastly, firm pressure above lip using finger tip.

4. This technique can also be applied to legs and feet. Apply pressure to hips, knees, ankles & feet.

Suggestions:

• gradually increase tolerance to technique, ie.. apply 3 strokes with brush followed by joint compression. Do not try to force child to except technique. Try to slowly start out then gradually increase the frequency.
• try to be sneaky in your approach, for example... as child is engaged with play activity apply input to legs
• allow child to apply his own brushing at times if desired. This is not an effective substitute approach.
• introduce brush during play time, ie., shaving cream
• other activities: inside barrel with pillows wedged around child, hot dog game where roll child in blanket tightly and rock rhythmically, quit box with music or textures to regroup self, bean bag chair to rock rhythmically with deep pressure applied, loofah brush in shower