Final answer:
Assistive equipment for children with thumb in palm deformities should enhance thumb opposition, support metacarpophalangeal joint function, and allow for grasp and release activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assistive equipment (AE) that provides support while facilitating active thumb use in grasp and release activities for a child with bilateral thumb in palm deformities, includes devices designed to enhance the opposition movement of the thumb and enable better metacarpophalangeal joint function. The AE should support the thumb in a position that is separated from the palm, permitting a freedom of motion that is crucial for effectively gripping objects. The optimal device would likely involve a custom-fitted orthosis that assists in bending the hand up toward the shoulder, tilts the hand to the side away from the body, and stabilizes the wrist while allowing the thumb to move sideways toward the fingers to facilitate grasp and release movements.
The AE may also incorporate features to support and extend the thumb, provided by the deep posterior compartment of the forearm. This allows the thumb to extend and move laterally, which is important for thumb mobility and function during gripping actions. A combination of dynamic and static support can be useful, with dynamic components allowing for movement and static components providing stability and positional correction.