Re: Gavin's back pain

[Guest guest]

Hi Sally,

It was interesting for me to read Gretchen's response and to hear about

Gavin. I am sorry he is in a bit of pain with his legs / back.

I know that my PT told me once that due to my knee injuries from ages ago I

have come to rely more on my hamstrings to lift my legs (rather than

quadriceps to push off) so as a consequence developed tight hamstrings. I

already know that my solus / Achilles tendons are tight. I recently went to

a stretch clinic and got some new stretches to incorporate into my routine.

I also noted with interest Gretchen's hip comment. My legs are the same

length, my shoulders even, but my hip (left one) is also slightly higher.

The answer to this for me is a combination of stretching and strengthening

some of the pelvic / hip muscles. I have some new activities to put into my

routine - interesting lifts, mostly isometric but once the house is in order

(we are modernising and almost done - works since April and boxes of all our

stuff still packed up until the builders are gone) I will get some strap on

weights to add resistance into the routine.

I think that stretching - no more than 10 to 15 reps each day - cannot harm.

It is important I think as it makes sure that channels are open for blood

flow and nerve transmission (ok - maybe that is my yoga self talking but it

seems to make me feel warmer and more energetic too). So I would add the

stretches in - but remember too that it is not just stretching, that joints

and strength training are important too.

So for each hamstring stretch you do, add in a quad strengthener to balance

the body. A good quad strengthener is just the ski squat, back against the

wall, bend at the knees to about 90 degrees, then up again. It is using the

body's own weight to build up muscle, and good too, and easy and not too

difficult.

Best wishes from England (I am in the countryside enjoying the seaside in

the rain and cold!)

Donna from London

[Guest guest]

Hi Malinda, Donna and Gretchen:

Thanks so much for all your replies...

Gavin is being checked for scoliosis every appt he goes to, that amounts to

roughly every 3 months. So far no worries but it is a risk, esp. as Gavin has

the Roussy-Levy variant of 1A and apparently risk of scoliosis is slightly

higher with it.

I called the PT at the hospital after reading your email and we now have an appt

for tomorrow morning...I'm going to ask her about wall slides etc...Gav seems

bored with the exercises these days, diff ones are always welcome. I suspect I

could use a ball workout too, I'm going to look into it. (I chuckled at your

image of a cool teen listening to records while exercising...His

bedtime/stretching music right now is Kenny Loggin's CD Return to pooh

corner...maybe we need to kick it up a notch..now that he's a lofty 6!)

Gavin saw the orthopedic surgeon in February and there were no concerns about

leg length then..they did measure him. I have suggested they check his hips

next time as his teacher says she can see more weakness on one side than

another..we notice it too and that he is limping a bit on one leg at times.

I don't think we're pushing him too hard, as we and his EA are the ones doing

the actual exercises with him, the PT/OT now is more of a

consultant system. I will ask her though tomorrow, a good thought. Thanks for

the tip Donna, about balancing the strenghtening...a very good point.

I was thinking of getting him into a child yoga program this fall. He

is in swimming twice a week and we make sure his AFOs are off at the

beach... keeping in mind your note re sand walking...amazingly he

doesn't fall in the sand as much as I'd expect so there must be

something to it. The other idea of trying horseback-riding seems to be out as

he had an allergic reaction after his first ride on

holiday..hives all over.

Gretchen..your thoughtful considerations are never an intrusion! We

have had a great summer, the guys have been off on camping trips with

friends while I've been in the field and we had two weeks in France at

the beginning of July. Gavin loved it, esp. the medieval walled city at

Carcassone and catapults Minerve in the SW and the 40 miles of beach near

Narbonne on the Mediterranean. (The only negetive comment came at the end of a

morning in the Musee D'Orsay where he and his friend Hannah decided they had had

enough of seeing " naked bodies'...the Rodin gallery!). We were in Narbonne for

the World Cup final, so took in what he called the 'biggest party ever " at the

town square (until the infamous head butt...). We had a day at the Parc Asterix

(an Asterix and Obelix themed amusement park) outside Paris, it was a hoot, I

think Rob and I had almost as much fun as he did.

We haven't been biking quite as far as he's tiring faster these days, but he

and Rob have been canoeing/kayaking a bit. We hope to do more of those next

summer with Gavin in the front of a tandem kayak/ He can also join the local

yatcht club's " able sail' program once he's 7. They do a great program with

MDA.

Thanks so much for taking the time to think about this and reply

everyone...Enjoy the seaside Donna! We've had crazy hot (40 degrees one

day)...I'd love to trade sometime.

Cheers

Sally