Guest guest Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Hi Anne, We had this happen often. Those little plastic clips are pretty weak. First thing to try: There is a small hole on one side where you can turn the screw that tightens and loosens the clip (they should have given you the allen key tool that fits that hole when you got the shoes). Sometimes a little tightening is all that's needed. But also, the black clips can strip quite easily and you can't tighten them. You can ask the orthotist for replacement black plastic clips (ours gave us a handful, he said they broke so easily from over-tightening, etc), but eventually what we did was go to the hardware shop and buy those metal hose clamps that they usually use on cars or plumbing fittings. They come in different sizes. Get one that looks like it will wrap around the bar easily and then tighten with a screwdriver. Those are pretty unbreakable and you can always loosen them easily again to widen the bar as your baby grows. The hose clamps have a little round bit that sticks out and is quite sharp. But we turned ours around so it was facing 'up' on the bar and out of harms way for head banging, walking, etc. Doesn't look pretty but it did the job. I hope this helps, my technical terms for DIY are a little sparse! By the way, as he grows you can check the width visibly by holding the bar up against his shoulders, the shoes should be on either side of his shoulders and you know the gap is wide enough for his comfort. Good luck with sorting this out! Moss CEO Steps Charity Tel: <http://www.steps.org.za> www.steps.org.za _____ From: nosurgery4clubfoot [mailto:nosurgery4clubfoot ] On Behalf Of annold_f Sent: 26 June 2006 05:05 PM To: nosurgery4clubfoot Subject: Problem w/ bar length My son, , is 3 and a half months old and has been in his FAB for 7 weeks now (23/7). The past few days I have noticed that the bar is not staying at the right width. He is wearing a DBB (I think) - it has the white shoes with the open toes and heels and the red bar. There are 2 black rings that hold the bar together, but they are no longer keeping it at the set width. He has been banging his feet around so much lately that I'm not sure if he knocked a piece off and I lost it, or if he just knocked the rings loose beyond repair. I reset the proper width (I have lines drawn on the bar) and within minutes it has slid all the way in and is as narrow as it can be. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but last Wednesday he started rolling over from his back to his tummy. He can't get back over from his tummy and I'm wondering if he's putting pressure on the bar when he is rolling over. Has anyone experienced a problem like this and is there a way to fix it? The only thing I have thought of is to put some electrical tape on it, but I don't know if that would be the right thing to do. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. This board is the most valuable resource I have found since we began this journey in March and I am so thankful for all of you. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Anne, I don't have a lot of experience with the red bar, but here's what I know; the black clips are held tight by little nuts that need an allen wrench to tighten them. If these are stripped out you can get replacement clips from Markell, . You could also call Fillauer directly - the part number is 801510 Clamps for Adjustable Splints. Oh, and automotive hose clamps work in a pinch to hold the bar tight - you'll just need to cover them with electrical tape or something b/c they are very rough. > > My son, , is 3 and a half months old and has been in his FAB > for 7 weeks now (23/7). The past few days I have noticed that the bar > is not staying at the right width. > > He is wearing a DBB (I think) - it has the white shoes with the open > toes and heels and the red bar. There are 2 black rings that hold the > bar together, but they are no longer keeping it at the set width. > > He has been banging his feet around so much lately that I'm not sure > if he knocked a piece off and I lost it, or if he just knocked the > rings loose beyond repair. I reset the proper width (I have lines > drawn on the bar) and within minutes it has slid all the way in and is > as narrow as it can be. > > I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but last Wednesday he > started rolling over from his back to his tummy. He can't get back > over from his tummy and I'm wondering if he's putting pressure on the > bar when he is rolling over. > > Has anyone experienced a problem like this and is there a way to fix > it? The only thing I have thought of is to put some electrical tape > on it, but I don't know if that would be the right thing to do. Any > suggestions would be greatly appreciated. > > This board is the most valuable resource I have found since we began > this journey in March and I am so thankful for all of you. > > Anne > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Thanks I was able to tighten them with the allen key and feel like a bit of an idiot that I wasn't able to figure that out myself. All is well in 's world now! Thanks again! Anne > > Hi Anne, > > > > We had this happen often. Those little plastic clips are pretty weak. > > > > First thing to try: There is a small hole on one side where you can turn > the screw that tightens and loosens the clip (they should have given you the > allen key tool that fits that hole when you got the shoes). Sometimes a > little tightening is all that's needed. > > > > But also, the black clips can strip quite easily and you can't tighten them. > You can ask the orthotist for replacement black plastic clips (ours gave us > a handful, he said they broke so easily from over-tightening, etc), but > eventually what we did was go to the hardware shop and buy those metal hose > clamps that they usually use on cars or plumbing fittings. They come in > different sizes. Get one that looks like it will wrap around the bar easily > and then tighten with a screwdriver. Those are pretty unbreakable and you > can always loosen them easily again to widen the bar as your baby grows. > The hose clamps have a little round bit that sticks out and is quite sharp. > But we turned ours around so it was facing 'up' on the bar and out of harms > way for head banging, walking, etc. Doesn't look pretty but it did the job. > > > > I hope this helps, my technical terms for DIY are a little sparse! > > > > By the way, as he grows you can check the width visibly by holding the bar > up against his shoulders, the shoes should be on either side of his > shoulders and you know the gap is wide enough for his comfort. > > > > Good luck with sorting this out! > > > > > > > > Moss > > CEO Steps Charity > > > > Tel: > > <http://www.steps.org.za> www.steps.org.za > > _____ > > From: nosurgery4clubfoot > [mailto:nosurgery4clubfoot ] On Behalf Of annold_f > Sent: 26 June 2006 05:05 PM > To: nosurgery4clubfoot > Subject: Problem w/ bar length > > > > My son, , is 3 and a half months old and has been in his FAB > for 7 weeks now (23/7). The past few days I have noticed that the bar > is not staying at the right width. > > He is wearing a DBB (I think) - it has the white shoes with the open > toes and heels and the red bar. There are 2 black rings that hold the > bar together, but they are no longer keeping it at the set width. > > He has been banging his feet around so much lately that I'm not sure > if he knocked a piece off and I lost it, or if he just knocked the > rings loose beyond repair. I reset the proper width (I have lines > drawn on the bar) and within minutes it has slid all the way in and is > as narrow as it can be. > > I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but last Wednesday he > started rolling over from his back to his tummy. He can't get back > over from his tummy and I'm wondering if he's putting pressure on the > bar when he is rolling over. > > Has anyone experienced a problem like this and is there a way to fix > it? The only thing I have thought of is to put some electrical tape > on it, but I don't know if that would be the right thing to do. Any > suggestions would be greatly appreciated. > > This board is the most valuable resource I have found since we began > this journey in March and I am so thankful for all of you. > > Anne > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Glad I could help! I was trained by my husband Steve in these matters, pretty much an idiot myself at it if I'm being honest! Remember not to get overzealous with the tightening. I overdid it once and found out that it's pretty puny and strips easily, so the allen key just spins around in the hole and does nothing. Moss CEO Steps Charity Tel: <http://www.steps.org.za> www.steps.org.za _____ From: nosurgery4clubfoot [mailto:nosurgery4clubfoot ] On Behalf Of annold_f Sent: 26 June 2006 06:04 PM To: nosurgery4clubfoot Subject: Re: Problem w/ bar length Thanks I was able to tighten them with the allen key and feel like a bit of an idiot that I wasn't able to figure that out myself. All is well in 's world now! Thanks again! Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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