Our Exercises for now

These change when we go in - not much - the base remains the same - but adjustments are made.


Exercise Program

Continue standing exercises without the brace. Be sure that left foot points straight ahead when standing on it, that left lower leg is perpendicuar to the floor and that her weight is centered over her hindfoot.

Practice walk at least 60 minutes per day.
*Step left pelvis forward with left foot, watch feet, small steps in front, slow.
*Tandem walk
*Take small step, feet together.

One leg exercises standing on left during television time commercials:
*Stand on the left only
+Hop on the left only

One leg exercises: ALWAYS have lower leg perpendicular to the floor, weight centered over the hindfoot, toes pointed straight ahead.

One leg exercises standing on left leg:
* Stand on left and bring right leg up and down (on Mom's leg)
*Bring left pelvis out and back simultaneously (remember to keep left leg alignment corrected as noted above)
*Rotate left pelvis toward the right, lift leg high
*Holding onto Mom's fingers for balance, go up onto tiptoes. Rise onto toe of the left leg, then return heel completely to the floor. Keep knee straight. Do in sets of 5 working toward 100 on each leg.

One leg exercises standing on the right
*Rotate right pelvis toward the left and back

Flex toes on the left and pull foot in toward the right.

Practice pulling foot up on the left. Also practice flexing left toes as much as possible and bringing left foot in toward the right.

Continue with present schedule of day and night AFO wear. Use left knee immobilizer for sleeping

Week 36

Gracie had her two-month checkup. We brought new shoes (Sketchers) with us and they worked well. They were basically the same style as Vans - which, btw, are no longer sold on Zappo and only one or two styles carried by Golden Shoe.

I asked the criteria for getting her out of the braces - or at least starting to wean her from them. Apparently she has to be walking nicely most of the time - it needs to be second nature. It does not include running which always involves hiking that arm and running badly. Interesting fact: when they wean her from the braces, they remove the affected side brace first, leaving the unaffected side in the AFO. Supposedly this forces more weight-bearing and use to the affected side.

Good News #1: She apparently grew enough on the left side to almost even out. They did not have to put a pad in her shoe.

Good News #2: Walking with and without shoes looks very good. The exercises seem to be working in terms of increasing her strength.

Good News #3 (and this is a potential BIGGIE): When I asked Mary about weaning her off the braces, I assumed it be another year before we could start. Mary, however, thought it might be this summer. Oh, that would be heaven!

Her left calf measurement went up half a centimeter. We are to go back at the end of July. I'm tired and need a break - we headed from Childrens to an appt at LaRabida to see her OT, Audrey. Audrey gave exercises to do plus recommended she wear her night brace regularly (why? she is keep her range without it. have to ask) and made her a removable cast for her right hand to do "forced use".

I have to call to make an appt to start seeing Mary for regular PT. Will do that tomorrow

Gracie and Soccer

Soccer is a very good workout for Gracie. She has the choice of standing on her affected left foot, balancing and kicking the ball with her right, or standing on her right and having to kick the ball with her affected left. Either way, she gets a great workout. This was difficult in the beginning of the season but now she does it quite well.

Week 34

Grace's exercises continue. She had a rough time with the short half steps (we call it walking the plank) and the tight-rope walking. But now she can keep her balance and is doing them well. Other exercises as were so nothing new to report. We go into Childrens at the end of the month.