Re: weak quadriceps/Helios

[Guest guest]

Betty,

May I ask, do you have weak quadriceps?

Laine

[Guest guest]

Hi Laine,

when i first got the helios maybe back in 2000, can't remember what year it was,

but i also dealt with Jean- and went thru the same thing with him and

actually i was the one who got his license taken away from him for what he had

done with me.? Anyways, at that time my quads were very strong.? I have since

had major back issues, spinal stenosis and my quad in my right leg is very weak

now.? My left one is stronger but still much weaker than 8 years ago.?

I know my CMT has progressed in the eight years and without the braces on i must

use a walker.? Like I said before I can't walk on uneven ground very well with

them on but it also might be attributed to the fact that I have had 2 hip

replacements and a knee replacement and my fear of falling is much greater since

those operations.?

Each of us is very different in how CMT affects us.? All I know is that Mitch

Warner is the most knowledgeable person?I have ever met as far as bracing and

CMT goes.?Yes, they are extremely expensive but they are custom made. .?I don't

think there will ever be a brace like you would like simply because we have

balance issues and for that the brace needs to be rigid to keep us from falling

over.

In the bracing industry there really have not been that many improvements.??In

the 6 years I have know Mitch he? has designed 2 new braces.? The first one was

the Helios, then the Helios?II and then the?Helios Max and I know he

will?probably design even more as time goes on.

He also has a plastic version of the Helios that is not as expensive and is not

as rigid.? Before I went out to Las Vegas I had gone to Hangar Orthotics and

they tried 5 different braces on me and I could not walk without holding onto an

uneven bar in any of them.? Like I said before the braces have been a blessing

to me and Mitch is a miracle to me.?

[Guest guest]

I can't thank you enough for sharing your experience in a kind way.

Lainie

[Guest guest]

Okay, but do the Helios work if you have weak/very weak quads??????

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I think that if you can walk than your quadriceps are not too weak for the

Helios. But if you are in a wheelchair they might be. Mitch who makes the Helios

braces told me that some people come to his clinic in wheelchairs and walk

out... So you don't need very stong quadriceps. Also practicing with the Helios

will strengthen the muscles.

Beata

[Guest guest]

I think the jury is still out on this one. I have very very weak quads, but my

hips are very weak also. Laine has very weak quads, but hips are not as

affected. She certainly walks better in them than I do, but I am going to work

with a physical therapist to try to learn a better way. The braces are very

solid and once I learn how to have my body work them better, I do believe they

will be good for me.

Jackie