Re: comparison of docband and starband

[Guest guest]

Hi Nickie,

I can share with you our experience with the DOC Band. Our 14 month

old daughter has been in her DOC Band since Feb. 19th (she was 11 1/2

months old at the time) and we are very pleased with the changes we've

seen so far! We could tell within 2 weeks, her little head was

benefiting from wearing the band. At each visit we can compare our

baby's head with the " before mold " of her head and can really see and

feel the changes. The prominent places aren't as prominent anymore and

her head is shaping out nicely.

Since you have had no luck getting to the file comparing the DOC Band

with the Star Band, I will try to e-mail the word document to you -

it's the same one from this same website. I hope your computer

doesn't crash again and it works!

Best wishes with your decision and your son's appointment tomorrow,

Cleveland SC

geodmj@...

> Hi! I'm trying to find some information comparing the DOC band and

> STAR band. I know there is a link to something in the files

> section, but my computer crashes every time I try to open it. Does

> anyone know of anything else on the web, or have a personal opinion

> to share? The few times that I've read something bad about one, its

> been a STAR band, which is what my son is getting fitted for

> tomorrow. Is the DOC really better?

> Thanks!

> Nickie

[Guest guest]

Here is the comparison info from the board, Natasha

The number one question asked by new members is what's the difference

between the DOCband and the STARband.

The #1 difference between the 2 products is the training the

clinician who'll be treating your baby has rec'd. DOCband made by

Cranial Technologies, is the ONLY product that company makes and is

the ONLY product their OT's & PT's treat. This is their specialty.

Each & every clinician who works for Cranial Technologies has to go

thru a several wk training process PRIOR to being allowed to treat

plagio babies w/their products. After that, they are monitored by

Cranial Tech's home office pretty closely. They also attend 2

updates each year at their home office in Phoenix - kinda refresher

courses. This is their specialty & the DOCband has paved the way for

many other plagio helmets/bands today, like the STARband. You can

get info on the DOCband at www.cranialtech.com Cranial Tech has

several locations throughout the country but their clinics are

limited, basically so they can keep a close & watchful eye on their

product. The STARband, made by Orthomerica (www.orthomerica.com)

looks similar to the DOCband and works on the same principals.

However, Orthomerica is a leader in orthotic & prosthetic products,

the STARband is not their only product. Also, orthotists, are not

required to get extra training on the STARband prior to being allowed

to treat plagio babies w/it. They do have a course on plagio &

helmets in their orthotist school, but it's not to the extent of

Cranial Techs. Orthomerica does offer an educational course on their

STARband to orthotists, however & unfortunately, it is not required

that orthos attend these classes, it's voluntary. Which is why we

all cannot stress enough the value and importance of finding an

experienced orthotist to treat the STARband. If you find a good

ortho, the band can be an absolutely wonderful product, as many

members in our group will tell you. However, in the wrong hands, the

STARband (as well as any other brand or helmet), can do more harm

than good.Bottom line, is drill your potential STARband

orthotist. There's a list of questions at

www.plagiocephaly.org/support " questions for the dr " . Feel free to

ask for references and before & after pics of any babies he/she has

treated. Again, it can be a wonderful product, as long as it's in

the right hands. There is a comparision chart in the files section.

> Hi! I'm trying to find some information comparing the DOC band and

> STAR band. I know there is a link to something in the files

> section, but my computer crashes every time I try to open it. Does

> anyone know of anything else on the web, or have a personal opinion

> to share? The few times that I've read something bad about one,

its

> been a STAR band, which is what my son is getting fitted for

> tomorrow. Is the DOC really better?

> Thanks!

> Nickie

[Guest guest]

Hi Nickie and welcome to the group! The DOCBand & Starband are of

the same design. The difference is in the education of the treating

ortho/clinician.

Cranial Technologies, the manufacterer of the DOCBand requires ALL

clinicians to complete a very extensive training course before ever

touching a real life baby and then has update classes that have to

be completed. Cranial Tech makes their bands, employees the

clinicians and treats the patient. Banding babies is all they do!!

They do not have a location on every corner, making it difficult for

some to seek treatment with them because of distance. They have

done this for a reason, they are very big on quality control and

feel that if they were to put one where ever they could find a

building the quality of treatment wouldn't be near as good.

Orthomerica, the manufacterer of the STARBand doesn't require any

particular training in treating with their product. They only

require the general courses one would get while in college. The

facility that treat's is not an orthomerica owned facility. In the

hands of an experienced/educated in plagio and it's treatment ortho,

this can be a good treatment option. You just have to be specific in

your interview, they may be experienced/educated in apply artifical

limbs, but have never touched a band.

Many have had good results from using the STARBand. It is sad to

see these " bad " stories you are referring to. I wish you luck!

Dustie, mom to , DOCGrad'03

Texas

> Hi! I'm trying to find some information comparing the DOC band

and

> STAR band. I know there is a link to something in the files

> section, but my computer crashes every time I try to open it.

Does

> anyone know of anything else on the web, or have a personal

opinion

> to share? The few times that I've read something bad about one,

its

> been a STAR band, which is what my son is getting fitted for

> tomorrow. Is the DOC really better?

> Thanks!

> Nickie

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied. Technically, my son wasn't

fitted today. They scanned him to make the helmet. I'm pretty

confident about the place we're going. It's Lawall in Philadelphia,

for those of you in the area. We were going to go to their office

at Dupont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE, but they would

have casted him and we wanted the scan. I wasn't able to read your

comments until after the appt, so I didn't see befores and afters,

but they had good answers for all my questions and only wanted us to

go to their office or the Dupont office for adjustments so we'd get

more experienced techs. Also, there was another baby in the waiting

room who seemed to be there for the same thing. So that made me

feel better. We're told we should have the helmet by the end of

next week, beginning of the following week. I'll be very vigilant

at the fitting and be sure everything's where it's supposed to be.

And I'll let you all know how it goes.

Thanks again!

Nickie

> Hi! I'm trying to find some information comparing the DOC band

and

> STAR band. I know there is a link to something in the files

> section, but my computer crashes every time I try to open it.

Does

> anyone know of anything else on the web, or have a personal

opinion

> to share? The few times that I've read something bad about one,

its

> been a STAR band, which is what my son is getting fitted for

> tomorrow. Is the DOC really better?

> Thanks!

> Nickie