Thought I'd pass this on to you all--we've tried all types of things to help Noah change his motor patterns from walking on his toe with his left foot. Since his SDR, he can do this, but his habit is to walk his pre-surgery way. For the last 2 weeks, we've been going to the treadmill 3 times a week and walking for just 10 minutes, alternating between fast walking and slow walking. Already, I can see him being able to take longer steps easier and sometimes getting his heel down when walking around the house and not even thinking about it. Nothing has helped him this much besides casting.
Hope this helps someone else out there!
nwmom
p.s. Noah is four years old, and running for toys on the treadmill helps. Also, holding my hand down and trying to get him to step on my hand helps him take longer steps. I take a babysitter with me and she sits on chair at back of treadmill and holds his hips while he walks to steady him while I hold things out for him to walk to. For ex, if he takes 20 long steps, he gets to hold the beanie baby cat that's stuck up in the "tree"

p.s One other benefit of walking on the treadmill has been that he can now walk much faster than before!

Thanks nwmom. This is great information. I know that lengthening Kaitlyn's stride is going to be a focus for us in the future, so I'm going to keep the treadmill tip in mind!

Also, does Noah walk without any assistive device? Is this something he was doing pre-SDR? It sounds like he's really doing great!

Noah now walks without any assisted device. Who knows what he'll need in the future for endurance and the like as he grows and changes. Hard to say. But right now, his endurance is very good. Probably because of his interest in elevators. We've taken him out to public places to do his therapy over the years, and so he's gotten a lot of exercise just walking to the elevators in malls and the like. He was using a walker to get to and from the playground at his preK school before surgery. He is not using anything now. When he gets tired, he still has a harder time getting a lengthy stride going and sometimes crouches more when tired, too. He does still wear braces on both feet (they are hinged braces and come to just above his ankles) and uses knee wraps occasionally to help stretch his hamstrings. Good luck to you, Kaitlynsmom!

You have given me the hope that I needed! I am hoping my son will get to that stage. His physio is really motivated and has suggested a stepper to help strengthen and lengthen. What are the criteria for SDR over in us? How severe does the child have to be before they will consider surgery? My son just turned four and is in a walker and also quad sticks for v short distances.

Hello nwmom,
I am new to the site, and learning so much from all of you. I provide care for children who have CP. The girl I watch had SDR done when she was 3, and is now almost 11. From what I have learned she is in a better "position" then she was before. Literally and figuratively. She still can't walk alone, not even with a walker. Recently the mother wants me to do these stretching exercises with her. It is very taxing on me and I kept thinking there has to be a better way for this to be done. I feel I am gaining all the benefit. My biceps keep getting bigger and bigger and I don't see anything getting better for her. So when I read your thing about the treadmill and you mentioned the leg braces for stretching I was like AHAH! I KNEW IT! Now what all this blathering is all about is, could you please tell me more about these leg braces that help to stretch their legs muscles? This parent uses NOTHING except a walker for any kind of assistance to this child. If I can find good information and support it with good facts, I think I could get her to use her head a little bit. My other question would be what happens when they grow with this surgery? I wonder if this girl has missed her chance to walk due to growing all these years and things not being done aggressively enough. Thanks again and again and again to all of you. Just when I think I can find nothing else I decide to read something I think will never be of benefit to me and voila! there is more!

Hermione72,
Wow--kudos to you for trying to help her out. Is she getting any physical therapy? If so, and IF they're covered by insurance, they'd be the ones to get the ball rolling on getting her the knee wraps, or knee immobilizers, as some folks call them. Not sure if they're covered by insurance or not, but I think they're only around $30. Noah's PT usually requests a length that's a little too long since kids grow out of them so fast.
My PT was just saying this week that research has shown that wearing the knee wraps (which actually go from upper thigh to ankle, keeping the knee straight) for 30 minutes of walking around every day is better than just stretching a person's legs by hand. Other people sleep all night in wraps or sit on floor and watch TV in them. These are good, too, but walking in them has proven best, because it helps change motor patterns, acc. to my PT. They sell them at orthodics and prosthetic places. Hope this helps!
nwmom

Hi Karimsmum,
I'm not sure exactly what the criteria is for SDR, but I think I read where Dr. Parks says it works best for those who mainly have stiffness in their legs. I think the SDR doctors list the criteria for eligible SDR patients on their websites. I believe I read an article that said about 50% of kids with cerebral palsey are eligible for this type of surgery, and that ages 2 to 6 were the best ages to have it done. Best of luck to you and your family.
nwmom

I briefly mentioned to the father about something to help her legs to straighten, and I got a big line of what I believe is garbage. So trying to hint to him about the leg braces did not work. He tried to tell me that they can't put any kind of equipment on her body (AFO's, the leg braces, etc) because her skin is so sensitive that she breaks out in a rash. I guess she got a rash from her AFO's one time. I was not around, so I know nothing of the situation. I just think it is sad. She gets no PT at all. Only when I have time to help her do some stretching (homework and other activities keeps us busy by the time we get home from school). Her mom does not have it part of her schedule. She just said try to do as much as you can. I asked about PT, but mom made up some excuse about school and the horses and other things kept them too busy to keep a schedule or something. It's a real shame. But funny thing is, her dad bought her two pound ankle weights the other day. But they can't get these leg braces to help her. Her legs are bent when she stands and then her knees point inward. Her knee caps are pulled up on top of her knee due to the muscles pulling, she can't point her toes well, and can't flex at all. Can't mimmick the same normal leg movements as me. It's just sad, her mom rides her butt all the time to do stuff, and make her believe she is doing everything to help her, but in the long run she isn't. Saddest part is I can't do much to help. :( Thanks for the info. I will keep it in my head and hope a time comes when I can use it.

I wonder if, legally, the child has a right to get therapy--to go over and above the parents. Does she want to get therapy? The kids around here go during school hours to therapy. Anyway, just a thought.
nwmom