Next Phase Begins

Onward and upward! Today Gracie got her casts off (hopefully forever!) and her new AFOs. They videotaped her walk for comparison purposes. Mary wasnt there so Brigid took care of us. Because she has the range, she doesnt require an ankle strap to keep her in. A big difference -> the brace stays in the shoe and she puts them on as a unit. Her feet just slide in - no more wrestling the brace into the shoe. She also rec'd a night brace - just for the left side - which she uses with the knee immobilizer.

We still do the 1 hour daily of practice walking - Brigid didnt like the way she was moving her hip forward so we were told to stop that. And we still do the four exercises we were already doing. We had two execises added. Each of these are to be done on both sides. She is supposed to raise herself on her toes on one foot while the other leg is held up off the ground. She is to do this 100 times over the day but she cant even do ten on her good leg right now so its highly unlikely we'll reach that this week. Quality is more important than quantity. The other exercise is to sit down and lift her foot up - exercising the anterior tib? - in a way she'll need when she walks without a brace. This is going to be her nemesis - she is particularly weak there. But we need it to get out of the braces ultimately.

Two views of the new AFOs:

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN AT WEEK 1