This blog is to share N's (& now also E’s) progress while attempting to fix what we believe is possibly a mineral deficiency. Progress since beginning mineral supplements has been nothing short of amazing. In 2-3 weeks she (& he) has/have had more progress than what months and even years of therapy alone could/has done! Both kids have Spastic Diplegia (Cerebral Palsy). N is 12 and was born at 26-27 wk. E is 5 and was born at 29-30 wks. (updated Apr 2017)
And N continues to now walk to and from her booster seat all by herself. Boy, our lives just got a whole lot easier!
She did amazing at therapy too! Sorry for the dark video...she is not leaning against anything but there is a bench right behind her to give her the feel of added security if she felt the need to back up against it.
Having added another young child to our family recently N's booster seat had to be moved to the backseat bench because the carseats won't anchor in the back; this makes getting N in and out of the van a little complicated. However, today when we parked the van and the teens hopped out to get her wheelchair and the younger girls from their seats, N took matters into her own hands. :) She unbuckled herself, stood up and WALKED between the middle row seats, around the front of one, to me at the door!! Wow! She looked great! Of course she was holding on but wasn't crouching and was standing tall. Later in the day she did it again. Must be on to something new!!
New PT goals written less than 2 weeks ago...already met and EXCEEDED!!
Here is N in ONLY knee immobilizers, standing in the middle of the floor, engaged in an activity that requires minimal weight shifting. Way to go, N!! Sooooo sooo SO awesome seeing her standing and playing independently!!
In the second video N has one short knee immobilizer on (makes it a little harder) and is doing a more involved (more difficult) activity, so she is standing up against the wall to help her work on her balance independently.
Also, her PT periodically does a knee contracture measurement. This is how it was explained to me on what we are measuring, "how straight her knee can get (she has a knee contracture in addition to hamstring tightness) The measurement is knee extension in supine." So the measurement is taken while she is lying flat on her back (supine).
The measurements can vary due to human error, her fighting it (or anxiety), or a better leg straightening exercise and "stretch" (in quotes because it is more of a warm-up and loosening) before measuring. In any case, while you will see the degrees bounce back and forth a bit, there has overall been tremendous progress (the goal is 0). I hope to have numbers to post in relation to her hamstring tightness soon.
9 Sept 2012 (Pre PGP)
Right: -16
Left: -28
19 Nov 2012 (PGP Day 11)
Right: (no measurement recorded, oops!)
Left: -18
26 Nov 2012 (PGP Day 18)
Right: -21
Left: -18
27 Dec 2013 (PGP Day 49)
Right: -15
Left: -18
31 Dec 2013 (PGP Day 53)
Right: -10
Left: -14
In retrospect, we really should have taken measurements the night before starting the PGP but we didn't. :( In any case, we are thrilled to see from Sept. through the rest of the year (as shown above), her right leg went from roughly -16 to -10 and her left leg went from approximately -28 to -14!!! Nice!!!
Day 49: Very exciting progress in PT…N stood all alone for several minutes in knee imobilizers and snow shoes while participating in activities that required turning/twisting in her torso. Great strength improvement in her torso and legs, and impressive balance.
(compare to Pre PGP video when tall kneeling and moving rings!!)
Inside the can N is wearing knee immobilizers and snow shoes. This activity requires her to use her own strength and balance to pull away from the wall and not fall foward.
