Discharge from Physical Therapy

Discharge Day

The smell of flowers blooming filled the air, as I walked to my car. I knew the day that I walked into their home for the first time that this day would come; but that doesn’t make it any easier. For the next several minutes, tears roll down my cheeks, as I try to pull myself together before I reach my next home. That family  needs me too.

The child I just discharged was dear to my heart. I have been going to that house for over two years…laughed with them…cried with them…rejoiced with them. I am a pediatric PT and I work in the early intervention system, where I see the patients in their own homes. They all work their way into my heart and then the rules say that at age three…it all ends.

I feel great about what we have accomplished together. Every milestone was celebrated and enjoyed to the fullest; but the child still needs so much more and I am no longer the one who will be there to help her learn. Thank goodness for the wonderful clinics that I have referred them to; but I don’t want to stop.

There are so many joys in this job; but the sorrows are there too.

As I arrived at the next house, I saw a small child peering out the front door, watching for me–it’s my next patient. The smile on her face makes the sorrow in my heart dim just a little…

Thank goodness I am still needed!

For activities and ways to play with your child, click HERE

Easter Egg Hunting

Don’t forget to get those eggs out now and practice! I remember when my first child was little getting swamped by the kids who knew how to get the eggs. My child was more like a spectator than a participant!

For years I have used dump and fill activities and particularly egg hunting, but forgot to get the eggs out way before for my own child.

Now I use Easter Egg hunting WAY before to help kids get the idea while at the same time accomplishing strengthening to their legs and core.

For Toe Walkers: this gets them going up and down more to help them (hopefully) get into a deep squat to stretch their heel cords

Make this a regular activity–use just about anything to “hide” and seek!

For more ideas, click HERE for available books.

New pages added: Activity Table, Ball play, and sitting

 

Hey everyone,

My mailbox is overflowing from your questions. A couple of things have stood out over the last week. I decided to post a few simple ideas and developmental progressions with ball play and activity tables as well as a basic sitting page. As always, this is not meant to take the place of therapy but will maybe give you some ideas to work on for fun and gross motor development.

 

Keep sending questions, I will privately answer you in a timely manner!

 

 

What Kind of Shoes Should I Buy???

For me…. lets see….Just kidding.

I get this question so much. I actually received a text about this as I was pulling up to post a response. I will let the cat out of the bag: YOU DON’T NEED SPECIAL SHOES to help your child walk. Now, if you have some specific areas that need attention, this may not be the case. For the average child, no special shoes are needed. Please don’t spend a lot of time or money searching out the perfect pair. Here are some tips:

DO:

–Get your child sized and keep up with his/her growth by getting new shoes when needed

–Wear shoes outside to protect feet. Barefoot is ok but just remember that there are numerous things from insects (bees) to glass, etc that you may encounter outside.

–High tops do add support. You don’t have to get these, but even little girls look cute in boots!

–Make a trip to a local inexpensive shoe store!

–Do let your child go barefoot inside the house. This is important for sensory feedback as well as strengthening the foot muscles.

DON’T

–Spend money on expensive “supportive” shoes at these young ages. Toddlers’ feet are not supposed to have this unless they have a known problem.

–Buy the traditional “walking shoe” –it has a slick bottom and it is not really a great shoe for walking. Its only good attribute is the high top.

–Buy the cute flimsy shoe that matches the outfit oh-so-perfectly. Make sure it is a decent shoe and will not flip over or the foot slide off to easy.

Have fun with your new walking baby! It is not long before the leg hikes up and your toddler is on the move with climbing–this can happen within hours of the first steps!!!

Click HERE for available books for more ideas.

Is tip toe walking ok?

Yes AND no.

Your baby is moving and learning and experimenting with a lot of muscles. When your child first walks, his/her steps and foot positions can change almost daily.  If he/ she stays on his/her toes at this stage, get them evaluated  to rule out sensory disorders and/or muscle imbalances.  More than likely, he/she will settle into a flat foot position but there are activities to improve this that a therapist can help you with.

If your baby has been walking for a few months and begins to tip toe walk, it is possible that he/she is practicing a new skill (which is an appropriate skill at that time). Watch to make sure it is not all of the time or getting worse. This would be a concern to ask for an evaluation by a therapist.

For ideas on how to interact and play with your child, click HERE for available books.

My Pediatric Physical Therapist suggested kinesio taping?

I know it sounds funny and many of you may not even know what it is. Kinesio taping is used to accomplish a variety of different things. It has received a lot of attention in the past few Olympics, when several athletes were visibly taped. The actual tape was invented years ago. Recently, many therapists have begun more actively using the tape as more and more research has surfaced. The tape can be used to treat an injury by reducing healing times as well as to enhance muscle functions without restricting range of motion.

That all sounds wonderful but what exactly can it do for toddlers and infants? Most of the more recent uses have been for improving postural control or reducing an over used muscle, such as in torticollis.  I received this question from a young mother whose child was diagnosed with torticollis and the child has not responded well yet from traditional stretching and positioning.  Following the protocols from a therapist who is trained specifically on how to tape for this condition is a must. The tape has to be applied in an inhibitory manner, meaning in a specific direction and anchored properly to reduce stress on the skin.

When used properly, this is a very effective tool in helping your child achieve his or her therapy goals.

Keep the questions coming! I don’t always post them here and will gladly send you private responses.

For ideas on how to play with your child to enhance development, click HERE for available books.

One month old “walking”

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Oh my! You are gathered together to see the new baby in the family and someone holds the little one upright. The baby proceeds to take “steps” and everyone is declaring that the baby is trying to walk. Subsequently everyone assumes the baby will be an early walker.

Let’s clear this up!

First, what you are seeing is a normal infant reflex that should be present in all infants at around 1 to 3 months. When the baby gets older, her or she will lose this reflex and just bear weight on his or her feet.

No ability to bear weight or with a rigid posture and head arching back are red flags that should be evaluated.

Once the baby gets old enough to pull into standing, the stepping reflex should reappear to assist the child to start crawling and eventually take steps.

There are many reflexes that are normally present. Some are abnormal if they stay too long. I have outlined some of the major reflexes and their normal and abnormal presentations in a book that is in development.

For other books that are available, click HERE

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