Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 We have stretches that we do for Maddie's feet. This was recommended by Dr. Herzenberg in Baltimore. He has a physical therapist that is now working with him. So, we stretch her feet about twice a day. Maddie also has " stiff hips " so we stretch them also. She does not fuss when we do the exercises, but I think that she is used to them now. Just a routine, after bathtime in the am and when we are getting jammies on in the pm. Only takes a few minutes. I should have mentioned that Maddie is only 4 months, so I can understand the complaints from a 22 month-er. Just wanted to let you know that others are recommending the stretches, good luck. Kim > > Can you please tell me if anyone else has been advised to stretch your > little one's feet. We have, and my son is now 22 months old and wise > enough now(?) to complain as it is hurting his feet and I am > constantly being told NO. > > 's feet are tight when they grow and as they settle this eases. > > I feel that stretching helps but, to be quite frank, the pain he feels > when I stretch his feet is really getting me down though I put a brave > face on things as I know this is important. > > Just in case there is any query - I AM VERY careful to take this > slowly, stretching a little bit more at a time starting from hardly at > all. > > Anyway - what I am wondering is... is anyone else doing these > exercises? I have read that Drs say that physio doesn't make any > difference - what do you all think? > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 , For what it's worth- here are my 2 cents: has a pretty tight Achilles tendon, so I would often do stretches with her (when she was younger) at night when I would put her pajamas on. At the time she was fascinated with counting, learning numbers and letters...so I would make a game of the stretching- counting with each bend of the foot or repeating the alphabet. Since she was unilateral, I would start the game with her good foot so that she didn't think I was just picking on her clubfoot leg. She just didn't notice that I only did 10 or so stretches on the non-clubfoot, but up to 50 or so on the clubfoot. I would never force her to do it either- if she complained, I stopped. I found that she let her leg relax when she thought it was a " game " ....versus just trying to get her to sit still and let me mess with her foot. A quick game of " bicycle " with the legs gets them to relax them somewhat too, so they're not resisting your stretching as much. You could make up songs and rhymes to let him think it's a game like the infamous " this little piggy " or " itsy bitsy spider " . Good luck! & (3-16-00, lcf) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 , For what it's worth- here are my 2 cents: has a pretty tight Achilles tendon, so I would often do stretches with her (when she was younger) at night when I would put her pajamas on. At the time she was fascinated with counting, learning numbers and letters...so I would make a game of the stretching- counting with each bend of the foot or repeating the alphabet. Since she was unilateral, I would start the game with her good foot so that she didn't think I was just picking on her clubfoot leg. She just didn't notice that I only did 10 or so stretches on the non-clubfoot, but up to 50 or so on the clubfoot. I would never force her to do it either- if she complained, I stopped. I found that she let her leg relax when she thought it was a " game " ....versus just trying to get her to sit still and let me mess with her foot. A quick game of " bicycle " with the legs gets them to relax them somewhat too, so they're not resisting your stretching as much. You could make up songs and rhymes to let him think it's a game like the infamous " this little piggy " or " itsy bitsy spider " . Good luck! & (3-16-00, lcf) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2005 Report Share Posted October 22, 2005 Thank you very much to everyone for your thoughts, I've really appreciated your input. I think we will continue with the stretching as my hopes are that this will reduce/stop the need for Al to have to undergo surgery to release these muscles. He walks well apart from during the feet growth spurts so with luck we'll be ok. I agree with all of you that this should hurt as little as possible and ideally not at all. Once again thanks for all suggestions - liked the nursery rhyme adaptation, what a great idea. ps to those who helped me with our bed transition stuff, now sleeps in a wooden car bed and loves it. I am just about to make a roll to go round the edge to stop him sleeping on the wooden lip (we use pillows at the moment but this is far from ideal). Can't wait till he's out of these rotten shoes and can sleep with a duvet and not in his sleeping bag This is all of our wish though isn't it. One issue we have found is that he naturally sleeps with his feet in the air on the side where there is no wall, so I use a pillow for this to make him comfy and this seems to be working well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2005 Report Share Posted October 22, 2005 Thank you very much to everyone for your thoughts, I've really appreciated your input. I think we will continue with the stretching as my hopes are that this will reduce/stop the need for Al to have to undergo surgery to release these muscles. He walks well apart from during the feet growth spurts so with luck we'll be ok. I agree with all of you that this should hurt as little as possible and ideally not at all. Once again thanks for all suggestions - liked the nursery rhyme adaptation, what a great idea. ps to those who helped me with our bed transition stuff, now sleeps in a wooden car bed and loves it. I am just about to make a roll to go round the edge to stop him sleeping on the wooden lip (we use pillows at the moment but this is far from ideal). Can't wait till he's out of these rotten shoes and can sleep with a duvet and not in his sleeping bag This is all of our wish though isn't it. One issue we have found is that he naturally sleeps with his feet in the air on the side where there is no wall, so I use a pillow for this to make him comfy and this seems to be working well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2005 Report Share Posted October 22, 2005 It's funny what sleep position kids get into. My son is a side sleeper too and loves to sleep with his legs in the air or balanced on their sides!! kathleen > > Thank you very much to everyone for your thoughts, I've really > appreciated your input. > > I think we will continue with the stretching as my hopes are that this > will reduce/stop the need for Al to have to undergo surgery to release > these muscles. He walks well apart from during the feet growth spurts > so with luck we'll be ok. > > I agree with all of you that this should hurt as little as possible > and ideally not at all. > > Once again thanks for all suggestions - liked the nursery rhyme > adaptation, what a great idea. > > ps to those who helped me with our bed transition stuff, now > sleeps in a wooden car bed and loves it. I am just about to make a > roll to go round the edge to stop him sleeping on the wooden lip (we > use pillows at the moment but this is far from ideal). Can't wait > till he's out of these rotten shoes and can sleep with a duvet and not > in his sleeping bag This is all of our wish though isn't it. One > issue we have found is that he naturally sleeps with his feet in the > air on the side where there is no wall, so I use a pillow for this to > make him comfy and this seems to be working well. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2005 Report Share Posted October 22, 2005 It's funny what sleep position kids get into. My son is a side sleeper too and loves to sleep with his legs in the air or balanced on their sides!! kathleen > > Thank you very much to everyone for your thoughts, I've really > appreciated your input. > > I think we will continue with the stretching as my hopes are that this > will reduce/stop the need for Al to have to undergo surgery to release > these muscles. He walks well apart from during the feet growth spurts > so with luck we'll be ok. > > I agree with all of you that this should hurt as little as possible > and ideally not at all. > > Once again thanks for all suggestions - liked the nursery rhyme > adaptation, what a great idea. > > ps to those who helped me with our bed transition stuff, now > sleeps in a wooden car bed and loves it. I am just about to make a > roll to go round the edge to stop him sleeping on the wooden lip (we > use pillows at the moment but this is far from ideal). Can't wait > till he's out of these rotten shoes and can sleep with a duvet and not > in his sleeping bag This is all of our wish though isn't it. One > issue we have found is that he naturally sleeps with his feet in the > air on the side where there is no wall, so I use a pillow for this to > make him comfy and this seems to be working well. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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