While there is some debate over the use of heal lifts, it is the path we have agreed to take in N's therapy. With N's great spasticity, shortened muscles, and hamstrings, the heel lifts were intended to allow her to gradually be "lowered" as her body was ready. She needed to also learn to shift her weight into her heels while standing, not on her toes. It may seem odd to have heel lifts if it is not how you have known to treat this issue but we often where shoes with a small heel, so it really is not so different than how we often normally stand.
In any case, the goal is to get her to be able to stand with flat feet without compromising her posture and causing her to crouch further than she already had been. This has been an ongoing process working towards this goal, one we saw to not be reached for a very long time most recently...until the PGP project. Within 4 WEEKS, not months, not years, N was ready to lose the heel lifts...not gradually but completely!! We truly could not be more amazed and excited!!
My husband has sent me these pictures, I've been out of the country for a week and therefore have not been able to monitor N's progress through week 4 like I wish I could have. But I will be home tomorrow and look forward to checking her flexability and strength. I will be sure to update!
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