Re: back problems due to gait

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gretchen. I only wear certain shoes now (I really like Merrells) and do

not even own heels of any kind anymore. The only problem with the AFO I got

years ago, is that it only fits in a bigger sized tennis shoe. Plus, I have

heard that AFOs (unless you HAVE to use them all of the time, of course) can

cause muscles to atrophy even faster than normal, because one depends on them,

thus, certain muscles are not being used. Is this true???

[Guest guest]

Karon,

In-shoe orthotics combined with the right shoes will help

greatly with this.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Be careful..... What you are describing sounds very familiar. I

used to describe my walking-gait as " walking with red woods " the top

of my legs moved my lower legs. Although I had what looked like a

normal gait it was far from it. I have listed below a few web sites

to read …… my guess from my experience is your hip flexors are tight

and weak. This causes the it band to work way to hard….. This

really begins to hurt (the band that runs down your thigh). Then

the glucteal muscles become inhibited and don't work and get

weaker…. Then the peiformis gets crazy at the littlest movement and

then they all pull on your pubes and back SI joint. Now L4 and L5

(lumbar vertebrate are involved).

Please read:

Management and Rehabilitation in CMT© 1997-1998 by Paolo Vinci M.D.

http://chriskolba.wordpress.com/2008/09/

Tight hip flexor inhibits the gluteus maximus and increased lumbar

extension and hamstring activity to compensate. There are also

several other compensatory problems that occur from the tight hip

flexor. Remember that most people have tight hip flexors due to

sitting, driving, sleeping in the fetal position, inactivity and

repetitive patterns. So, if the hip flexor is tight it could lead

to patellar tendon/knee pain, and plantar fasciitis.

http://www.stretchman.com/abductor.html

Kim

[Guest guest]

Karon,

Let me clarify. When I mentioned " in-shoe orthotics " I was referring

to something that people often term " an arch support " . This is not an

AFO (Ankle Foot Orthotic) that goes up the leg... but rather a

supportive device that goes under the entire foot in the shoe to promote correct

heel strike, cushion the shock to the spine from walking on concrete or

pavement, and stablize ankle motion. If these are made correctly for your feet,

you will notice a much easier gait - as least I have.

If you can get to Santa , you might want to check in with

Stefan Moser at Swiss Balance for an evaluation and explanation of

them http://www.swissbalance.com you can also email the office from

the website.

And if you're going to the CMT Conference, I can show you what mine

look like.

As for AFOs directly " causing " atrophy, I asked Stefan about this and

he said NO, but then explained each person is different and a

progressive disease such as CMT can still cause atrophy even with the

AFO.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hi Karon,

I know where you are coming from. I so do have back problems. After going for a

walk my back is so sore. I do find how ever that when wearing my leg braces does

help some and also the walker seems to help more then using canes. I also find

that using the tred mill does not affect the back as much as walking on the

pavement.  Good luck in what ever you try.

Debra from Canada

________________________________

From: " kedleson@... " <kedleson@...>

Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 12:01:23 PM

Subject: back problems due to gait

How many of us have back problems as a result of our gait? I have

unexplained back pain and it seems to come from the walking I do (I don't wear

AFOs) and I love to walk! I stretch before walking but my posture and gait are

not normal. Whenever I pass by a store window I look up and see that I bend

forward a lot when I walk.

Perhaps it is because my feet are worthless in strength so I am relying on my

upper legs to be able to push off the ground when walking?

Karon

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

Wow - the tight hip flexors, periformis involvement, and IT band ALL are

what I have.

What do you do to manage this?

So far I go for physio to get stretched out, and should be exercising a lot.

But my hip area and periformis are just feeling *weird* now.

Thanks!

Donna from London