Re: DBB 23/7, how many times off in a day?

[Guest guest]

, eventually it boils down to follow your mommy instincts. Initially in

those first few days / week you do want to check for sores (or the start of

sores) - but eventually if everything is going OK you can eleminate taking them

off several times to check and just do your once a day for an hour. While it's

important you stick as close to the 23 hours a day as you can, you know if it

turns out to be 1 hour and fifteen minutes or something that they're off, don't

beat yourself up about it. The time putting on the shoes will get faster, too,

as you both adjust to the whole system. Sounds like you're doing a great job

right now, just keep up the good work!

s.

DBB 23/7, how many times off in a day?

Hi folks,

Raphael has now been in the DBB for 5 days, and is adjusting

nicely, though it's still clear that he likes it better off. He has

so much fun with his free time, but we are resisting the temptation

to give him too much.

I have a question about the free time though. First, my understanding

is that 23/7 means that he should be in the shoes and bar 23

hours a day, and that when we undo the first bolt when taking

the bar off that counts as the start of free time (not, say, when we

finally have both shoes off).

Dr. Mosca and the orthotist at Children's expect us to take the

shoes off many times a day (at least 3-4). The apparent

reasons/advantages are to check for skin problems and catch

them early and to do stretches to preserve range of motion.

On the other hand, it currently takes me about 8-9 minutes

total to get the shoes and bar off and on. If I'm doing it

four times a day, that means that half of Rafe's free time is

eaten up with me messing with at least one foot! It would be

more fun if we could consolidate it all into one hour.

So, I'm wondering what other people have been advised about

how many times to take the shoes off in a day. What does Dr. Ponseti

say? What do folks actually do? How important is it to do the

stretches a several different points in a day rather than all at once?

Thanks,

Toby 5/02

Raphael 9/05, lcf, DBB 23/7

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

We didn't do any kind of stretching with Grace as per Dr. Pirani, he

said that stretching was unnecessary. I asked him about stretching

when Grace was on her second or third cast after I had heard about it

on this site and he said that the casts do all the stretching that is

needed. Dr. Ponseti also does not perscribe stretching as far as I

know.

I have heard that Dr. Mosca and a few other qualified Ponseti doctors

do though and thus this has been a topic of debate. I don't think

that stretching (when shown how) in moderation could hurt but really

don't think that it is soo important that you need to worry so much

about the exact number of minutes you are massaging his feet.

I would just try to make the stretching an enjoyable part of the hour

out of the brace. Also, if Raphael continues to do well with the

brace over the next few days, I would only take it off him to check

his feet in the morning, unless he seems extra fussy or

uncomfortable.

I know that Dr. Mosca is just trying to prevent you having any

problems with blisters and sores but if your baby is doing well in

the shoes as our daughter did (not a blister or sore, thanks again

KORI for the tips and tricks!!), then you really don't need to be

taking them off so much...it's a real pain in the butt to be taking

them off, putting them on, taking them off, putting them on and all

the while, worring that you are doing it right - believe me, he will

let you know if he is uncomfortable. As long as you are putting the

shoes on correctly and getting that heel way down in the shoe, he

really should be fine as he has been for the last 5 days (way to go

btw :-))

Sounds like you and Raphael are doing well and we wish you continued

success!

& Grace 15 mos

right unilateral clubfoot FAB 13 hrs

>

> Hi folks,

>

> Raphael has now been in the DBB for 5 days, and is adjusting

> nicely, though it's still clear that he likes it better off. He has

> so much fun with his free time, but we are resisting the temptation

> to give him too much.

>

> I have a question about the free time though. First, my

understanding

> is that 23/7 means that he should be in the shoes and bar 23

> hours a day, and that when we undo the first bolt when taking

> the bar off that counts as the start of free time (not, say, when we

> finally have both shoes off).

>

> Dr. Mosca and the orthotist at Children's expect us to take the

> shoes off many times a day (at least 3-4). The apparent

> reasons/advantages are to check for skin problems and catch

> them early and to do stretches to preserve range of motion.

> On the other hand, it currently takes me about 8-9 minutes

> total to get the shoes and bar off and on. If I'm doing it

> four times a day, that means that half of Rafe's free time is

> eaten up with me messing with at least one foot! It would be

> more fun if we could consolidate it all into one hour.

>

> So, I'm wondering what other people have been advised about

> how many times to take the shoes off in a day. What does Dr.

Ponseti

> say? What do folks actually do? How important is it to do the

> stretches a several different points in a day rather than all at

once?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

> Toby 5/02

> Raphael 9/05, lcf, DBB 23/7

>

[Guest guest]

We were told in Hayden's former treatment that

stretching was absolutely necessary and that we had to

do them minimum twice a day once he was in the boots

and bar. So, when we had the two trial runs with the

b & b, I faithfully did the stretches as many times as I

could and Hayden seemed to be okay with them. But I

couldn't figure one thing out: if Hayden was only

supposed to be out of the boots for one hour a day,

but we were supposed to do the stretches at least

twice a day, did that mean he was supposed to have two

half hour stretches of time? Three twenty minute

stretches or six ten minute stretches? Then, in the

midst of that when his feet wouldn't stay in the boots

and most of my time was spent trying to get them back

in, I felt like a lot of that hour got eaten up. I

also had the inclination to leave him out of the boots

since he was so happy out of them and am pretty sure

he never had them on for 23 hours ever. And being a

big " toe kisser " , it was a very hard temptation to

pass up. I will have to be much more disciplined down

the road!

Thank God I hooked up with and she

re-directed me to Dr. Pirani who does not require the

stretching. I suspect once Hayden is back in the

boots again, that I will maybe do the stretching once

in awhile because it probably feels good. I know I

like a good toe stretch now and again! And since the

stretching I was shown was fairly simple (just three

stretches total), it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Um, I just used the word " stretch " eleven times!

Okay, twelve.

--- wrote:

---------------------------------

Hello ,

We didn't do any kind of stretching with Grace as per

Dr. Pirani, he

said that stretching was unnecessary. I asked him

about stretching

when Grace was on her second or third cast after I had

heard about it

on this site and he said that the casts do all the

stretching that is

needed. Dr. Ponseti also does not perscribe stretching

as far as I

know.

I have heard that Dr. Mosca and a few other qualified

Ponseti doctors

do though and thus this has been a topic of debate. I

don't think

that stretching (when shown how) in moderation could

hurt but really

don't think that it is soo important that you need to

worry so much

about the exact number of minutes you are massaging

his feet.

I would just try to make the stretching an enjoyable

part of the hour

out of the brace. Also, if Raphael continues to do

well with the

brace over the next few days, I would only take it off

him to check

his feet in the morning, unless he seems extra fussy

or

uncomfortable.

I know that Dr. Mosca is just trying to prevent you

having any

problems with blisters and sores but if your baby is

doing well in

the shoes as our daughter did (not a blister or sore,

thanks again

KORI for the tips and tricks!!), then you really don't

need to be

taking them off so much...it's a real pain in the butt

to be taking

them off, putting them on, taking them off, putting

them on and all

the while, worring that you are doing it right -

believe me, he will

let you know if he is uncomfortable. As long as you

are putting the

shoes on correctly and getting that heel way down in

the shoe, he

really should be fine as he has been for the last 5

days (way to go

btw :-))

Sounds like you and Raphael are doing well and we wish

you continued

success!

& Grace 15 mos

right unilateral clubfoot FAB 13 hrs

>

> Hi folks,

>

> Raphael has now been in the DBB for 5 days, and is

adjusting

> nicely, though it's still clear that he likes it

better off. He has

> so much fun with his free time, but we are resisting

the temptation

> to give him too much.

>

> I have a question about the free time though.

First, my

understanding

> is that 23/7 means that he should be in the shoes

and bar 23

> hours a day, and that when we undo the first bolt

when taking

> the bar off that counts as the start of free time

(not, say, when we

> finally have both shoes off).

>

> Dr. Mosca and the orthotist at Children's expect us

to take the

> shoes off many times a day (at least 3-4). The

apparent

> reasons/advantages are to check for skin problems

and catch

> them early and to do stretches to preserve range of

motion.

> On the other hand, it currently takes me about 8-9

minutes

> total to get the shoes and bar off and on. If I'm

doing it

> four times a day, that means that half of Rafe's

free time is

> eaten up with me messing with at least one foot! It

would be

> more fun if we could consolidate it all into one

hour.

>

> So, I'm wondering what other people have been

advised about

> how many times to take the shoes off in a day. What

does Dr.

Ponseti

> say? What do folks actually do? How important is

it to do the

> stretches a several different points in a day rather

than all at

once?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

> Toby 5/02

> Raphael 9/05, lcf, DBB 23/7

>