Something I just noticed...

[Katherine]

Does anyone else's wrists bend in (towards the elbow)? Mine do and I've never thought much of it, but tonight my friends commented on how funny it is. Most of them don't know I have CP/what it is, and haven't picked up on my subtle hints about it either. Anyway, what I just noticed is that OTHER people notice.

I'm diagnosed quad, but I think I'm a diplegic since my arms and legs aren't affected equally. Though my arms/trunk/neck/face are more invloved than most diplegics I've seen.

I know it's pretty hard to stretch contracted arms, but does anyone have tips?

Thanks y'all :cool:

[Donna Thomson]

Hi Katherine, have you ever tried wrist splints, the kind you can get at the drugstore? I used to put them on Nick when he was sleeping to stretch his wrists and break contractions. You could wear fingerless gloves over the top if you wanted, but even on their own, they look pretty ok. Donna

[skigirl1689]

My wrists bend slightly outward so maybe it's just the level of spasticity in the muscles or how the muscles receive messages from the brain. Just a thought.

Becca

[blackbelt1997]

I don't think my wrists bend in or out, but my hands flop downwards from my wrists.

[CPchick]

Yeah same as Blackbelt

[Katherine]

I suppose that is what I mean, Pil and Erin. Oh well, I shouldn't be too worried about it!

[lisa6wks]

Katherine,
What you are describing sounds very much like contractures, I have seen it in some of my students with CP. You could consult with a PT, but otherwise I would just get some of those wrist splint like Donna suggested and maybe wear them at night whey you go to bed. I have some for an injury I had in my wrist and I just got it at Wal Mart. If it is a contracture you don't want it to get tighter.

Lisa

[funnylegs4]

I'v never seen anyone with cp who's wrists bend but I do notice that everyone with cp(at least the ones I know) have hands that are shaped a certain way. I have this too. I also have very strong hands because I use them to move around with crutches etc. Maybe that has something to do with it.