PT Recap: Balance and Ramps

Last week E was at PT, doing her thing. There is a PT intern working with Theresa. E loves Becky.

Trying to work the ramp with her AFOs and shoes on:


Trying the ramp with her sneakers sans AFOs:




Even though there might not seem to be a different going on in these ramp videos, what's different here is that E is initiating her movements well. This is paying off in real life, as E can now put her feet up a step with more confidence (without a handhold or crutches) but does not do the weight transfer yet. One piece at a time, I guess.

Working on balance, with a balloon--note her hand position when trying to bat at the balloon. This is common with kids like Elena--the act of flexing your palm "up" is akin to the same movement in her feet--a movement that doesn't come natural to her. With better balance, I think she could use the palms of her hands easier.

PT recap: working with her new DAFOs

At PT Theresa had Elena do a lot of her normal exercises wearing with her new DAFOs. I had low expectations, b/c her feet will feel very different, and her shoes are much heavier/bigger b/c to accomodate her new braces she had to go up a full shoe size.

Overall, not too bad. She spent a lot of time doing steps with her loftstrands (not shown) and going up and down the ramp.



Note how far out she puts her crutch when going up the ramp--that's so she can put her weight on her left leg (dominant leg) while doing most of the work.



Here is E walking in her new DAFOs. She might have moved a little better if she wasn't holding something. Still--she made it!