J&K Mom
09-01-2008, 11:59 AM
(Until today) Katie can't pull to stand. She can get into half kneel but can't pull up. There's a couple reasons/problems. One is she for some reason does not like to get her foot planted flat in half kneel, so she's up on tippy toes on the foot that needs to be planted for stability. Her ROM and tone is fine so I don't know why she doesn't plant solid. Add to that she has poor ability control over the thigh muscles for release/ support. Sorry drawing a blank on the proper term.. but basically with her thigh muslces, it's all or nothing, she can't hold an in between position needed for squatting, standing, or correcting balance. She's getting better but very slowly.
So.... put on the AFO's somewhat control the tippy toes, but then they big clunky heavy shoes get in the way!! Anyway. I guess it's all about motivation. I have been saying for a while now that the only thing keeping Katie from using the walker functionally is they fact that she can't stand up to it on her own. She tries, but it's a light frame wobbly kind plus she CAN'T pull up, so she gets mad and shakes it. LOL
Well I got the (may I say) brilliant idea to pull Jake's old gait trainer out of the shed and it is the perfect size. And I know the PT is not going to want her to use it She wants Katie to have nearly no support, but I am over ridding this one, sorry ;) ... we'll see what she says Wednesday. I have no supports on it at all, just use the frame as a walker, but it's very stable.
And guess what? Yep, she pulled up to stand on it 3 times today!!!!! :) :) :) The only help I gave her was to help get the clunky AFO from under her butt. It'll definitely come with practice. And something else I like about the gait trainer is that I can just help her turn her body around and she can use it as a posterior walker to get herself out of a jam. We only walk in the house because it's so hot and gnatty here. So we have a 20 foot area in the living room and it helps to be able to use it in posterior in some of the corners.
The other YAY today was when she was walking, she had a mini tantrum :) when we walked toward the door and she thought she was going outside. I said no outside and sat her down. She looked at me and said "wah" (walk) and tried to sign it. So that's cool!
So.... put on the AFO's somewhat control the tippy toes, but then they big clunky heavy shoes get in the way!! Anyway. I guess it's all about motivation. I have been saying for a while now that the only thing keeping Katie from using the walker functionally is they fact that she can't stand up to it on her own. She tries, but it's a light frame wobbly kind plus she CAN'T pull up, so she gets mad and shakes it. LOL
Well I got the (may I say) brilliant idea to pull Jake's old gait trainer out of the shed and it is the perfect size. And I know the PT is not going to want her to use it She wants Katie to have nearly no support, but I am over ridding this one, sorry ;) ... we'll see what she says Wednesday. I have no supports on it at all, just use the frame as a walker, but it's very stable.
And guess what? Yep, she pulled up to stand on it 3 times today!!!!! :) :) :) The only help I gave her was to help get the clunky AFO from under her butt. It'll definitely come with practice. And something else I like about the gait trainer is that I can just help her turn her body around and she can use it as a posterior walker to get herself out of a jam. We only walk in the house because it's so hot and gnatty here. So we have a 20 foot area in the living room and it helps to be able to use it in posterior in some of the corners.
The other YAY today was when she was walking, she had a mini tantrum :) when we walked toward the door and she thought she was going outside. I said no outside and sat her down. She looked at me and said "wah" (walk) and tried to sign it. So that's cool!