Does anyone have any experience with

[Tylersmom]

hyperextending the knees? Ty is hyperextending his knees and it is causing them to hurt. I was wondering what helps it. The pt's sugestions are to bend his afo's up a little, use kenesio tape behind them(which he tried and was off by the end of the night) and neoprene knee brace but she said that would be last resort. His left foot is also tingling almost any time he sits.

[taft]

Where have you been???? :) we miss you on ivillage. :D hopefully I have the right Tyler. :) hope everything is going well.

[Tylersmom]

lol yep its the right Tyler! Oh ive been around. It's nice to hear from you. How have you been?

[taft]

Were surviving, How is Tyler liking school this year?

[Tylersmom]

ummmm well he doesnt. He is really strugglling at school. I just met with his teacher and he will have 3 different people(including her) help him. He is struggling with reading spelling and written expression. He dreads to go to school bless his heart. She said he is really quiet doesnt volunteer but he really watches her. That's my little man he's a watcher. lol. She modified his homework so now that when he has had enough that's it we can quit for the night. So now maybe his jerky movements will slow when he's trying to write.

How's school going there?

[taft]

Were going to homeschool. Taft was dx with severe epilepsy about 6 months ago and has up to 20 seizures a day were waiting to have epilepy surgery everyone is on board but hte neurosurgeon...lol, but she can't do his surgery anyway we were referred to he when they thought he had a brain tumor so we go back in december for another mri and hopefully a referral . but academically he is doing fine with what were working on he's still 4 so its pretty darn easy stuff right now.

[Tylersmom]

Oh nooo. Im so sorry to hear about his siezures.Wow that is a lot. Bless his heart. I hope he is able to get the surgery and soon. Hoping his recovery goes smoothly and it takes care of the siezures. I dont miss those ugly things although sometimes I think he is having mild ones.

[Bec]

I am sorry he is having such a struggle with school. :( Maybe he might like it more if you find a way to get him more comfortable...

Regarding hyperextension of the knees.

Spencer does that. We used Benik knee supports for several years, maybe 3+.

http://www.benik.com/ped_product_knee_305V.html

http://www.benik.com/images_lg/ped_K_305VPED_s.jpg

http://www.benik.com/images_lg/ped_K_305VPED.jpg

They worked really well and he walked so nice in them. The down side is that they are hot in the summer time and made him sweat. So, he didn't wear them in the summer. I put them on him this fall and he shrieked. He hated them.

I told Dev Ped I was sure as soon as he was old enough to figure it out, he would remove them at school.

Sooooo, we are now going to try hinged AFOs. They are on order. We haven't gotten them yet, so I don't know how well they will work.

Hope you find the solution that works for you and your family.

****

I found this site.

http://www.scop.net/lcodes.htm

And this Q&A.

http://www.chasa.org/orthotics.htm#Knee%20Hyperextension

Question: What is your opinion about correcting hyperextension in the knee with braces?


ANSWER:
It sounds like your daughter is very close to taking off! Without the complications, the "norm" for walking is up to 17 months. One of my children did not walk until 18 months, and I took a lot of teasing for not facilitating him!

Knee hyperextension (HE) in very difficult to control, and there are varying opinions on the subject. I strongly agree with your orthotist on this one. An orthotic that goes up to the hip is cumbersome and tends to restrict general floor mobility which children need. It also is so supportive it does not allow for functional strengthening. In addition, a higher orthotic make it tough for kids to dress themselves. Setting Ashley's AFO in slight dorsiflexion of about 5-10 degrees, depending on your child, often will deter knee HE. Dorsiflexion is the opposite of pointing the foot down, where the forefoot is lifted such as in tapping your foot. I couple this approach with strengthening and balance activities. There is still some incidence of HE in many cases, but significantly less frequently. I would highly recommend you try this modification to the AFO first...you can always do more later.

[Tylersmom]

Thank you Bec. Sweating is one concern of mine. It sounds like the bending of his afo's is a good starting point then. She did mention he may need to go back to hinged afo's. I forgot about that. I think I have to agree on the knee brace thing. Wearing two of those looks awfully heavy and sweaty. Thank you for the information!!:)

[fireweed]

old friend here. :)

just a thought - might be totally off base. is there any possibility his quads are spasming and causing the hyperextension?

is it just from weakness, or from too much tone in other areas?

glad to hear you all are well - not so glad about school. I hope it's just an adjustment period thing in tyler's case...

all my best

[Tylersmom]

Im not exactly sure. We are really just now figuring this out. B/c his knees have been hurting him in the back I would say at least the past year. The pt didnt really think he does it when he walks but we definately see it sometimes when he walks. He was throwing them back pretty good the other day.

How are ya? Nice to hear from ya!