Re: Dynamic bands vs. Passive bands

May 12, 2009

I've always considered Hanger and Star bands active because the foam is

routinely shaved out to encourage and the head to grow into the open space.

Strictly passive bands are those that sit on your head like a bowl and sit and

wait for the head to grow into that shape. If you want to see what a true

passive band looks like, look up the Clarrens helmet, it was the first of its

kind and is still used today.

In any case, many orthos lately have been specifying their bands as passive, but

I don't see them as such. I would definitely clarify the DOCBand as a " dynamic "

band, because their success is based on applied forces and growth. I recently

learned that when the corrected head mold is made for a custom-fit DOCBand, they

actually " take down " the prominent areas just a little bit, by shaving them down

with a file. So that when the foam and plastic is formed around the corrected

head mold, it fits even more firmly than it would if it simply molded to the

prominent areas as they exist, this is where the applied forces comes into play.

A DOCBand rarely, if ever, fits loosely when it is first fitted. But we hear all

the time how it's " normal " for Hanger and StarBands, etc., to be so loose when

they first are fitted. So it seems to me this is where the passive vs. dynamic

debate starts. DOCBands start applying mild pressures from day one, while other

bands can take some time to grow into to reach that snug fit necessary for it to

work properly.

So would you get quicker results with a DOCBand? I personally think so. My son

was 17 months when he got his first band and I noticed change in the very first

week, which would have been unheard of in any other band considering his age.

But that doesn't mean you won't get great results with a Hanger band. It just

might take longer, like the ortho said, your son may wear the band for up to 5

months, and get great results, but you might see the same results in a DOCBand

by 3 or 4 months.

Anyway, that's just my little rant and 2 cents on " passive " bands. Good luck!

Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)

Jordan-5

>

> Hanger said they use the Hanger band, which he said is a passive band. Is

Cranial Tech's a dynamic band?

>

> We would see better/quicker results with a dynamic band, wouldn't we?

>

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