:confused: Regarding my previous post: what is muscle tone and why did my legs need to be in casts to address this situation? thanks much sincerely ohavgevesim

Hi

I'm guessing you have spastic CP? I was never just placed in casts but I have had them after lengthening operations. Anyways, spasticity/muscle tone basically means that your muscles make little contractions all of the time (instead of just when you are moving, like in able bodied people). This is caused by brain damage before the age of two that affects the part of the brain that controls the muscles--CP. With this the brain sends messages to the muscles constantly.

After a while of moving all the time the muscles become tighter and tighter until you can't straighten them totally anymore. I'm assuming serial casting is used to hold the muscle(s) in a stretched or straight position which can lessen the tightness (if that's not right someone please tell me! :) )

As far as casts after lengthenings, well lengthening is cutting the tightened muscles to release the tension and allow it to stretch a more normal amount. The muscles need time to heal after this so casts prevent you from using the cut muscles completely. And from the previous post, I'd say your hip was placed in traction because moving it right away would've been really painful, but I'm not really sure.

Can you ask your general doctor, or a PT or someone like that, for more information about CP? :)

Steffers2318 - thanks very much for your informative reply which I found to be helpful. wishing you well. sincerely ohavgevesim