Re: question on muscle tone

[Guest guest]

I have heard that children with casts tend to have less muscle tone later on.

Does anyone know if the time in casts has any relation to the severity of

this or the child's age? Does the tone come back after they are out of casts

for awhile? I know this is a minor problem, but want to do everything I can

for my child.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the replys on muscle tone. I was just curious to know others

experiences.

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

Kids with clubfoot do tend to have smaller calves, but I don't think it

has much to do with the casting (someone please correct me if I'm

wrong). To be honest, Jakob's calves are quite small still, but his

thighs are huge and quite firm. I've looked at him compared to a couple

other non-clubfoot kids we see all the time, and Jakob has at least as

much muscle tone in his thighs and stomach as the others do.

Coharmony@... wrote:

> I have heard that children with casts tend to have less muscle tone

> later on.

> Does anyone know if the time in casts has any relation to the severity

> of

> this or the child's age? Does the tone come back after they are out

> of casts

> for awhile? I know this is a minor problem, but want to do everything

> I can

> for my child.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

I do not remember seeing anywhere that clubfoot casting causes a

reduction in muscle tone. If casting in general does that, I think

that it would be temporary. If it did, then Ponseti method casting

involves the shortest amount of time in casts of any of the other

casting and/or surgical methods.

It is my opinion that if there is a lower amount of muscle tone that

it may be because clubfoot in general causes a reduction in the size

of the calf muscle and/or that clubfoot may affect how " toned " the

muscle is. I do not think that casting or not affects muscle tone

other than perhaps temporarily. The amount of reduction in size is

variable.

From 2 clubfoot books that I have comes the following information on

differences in sizes of feet and calves.

Physically Observable Results after Successful Treatment

The following results show a variation of affects depending on the

severity of each child's condition regardless of treatment with non-

surgical or surgical correction. (Dr. Lehman, chapter 34, Disorders

of the Foot and Ankle, results from 200 feet, 1979-1987) (Ponseti

1980 study)

1. Shoe Size, Shortening of the Affected Foot, from 0-4 cm

(average 1.6cm) (Ponseti's 1980 study mean difference was 1.3 cm)

2. Difference between the Width of the Feet, 0-.6 cm (average

0.3cm) (Ponseti's 1980 study mean difference was 0.4 cm)

3. Difference in Circumference of the Calves, 0-5.5 cm (average

2.5 cm) (Ponseti's 1980 study mean difference was 2.3 cm)

4. Leg-Length Difference, 0-5cm (average 0.6cm) (Ponseti's 1980

study had no difference)

and (3-17-99)

>

> > I have heard that children with casts tend to have less muscle

tone

> > later on.

> > Does anyone know if the time in casts has any relation to the

severity

> > of

> > this or the child's age? Does the tone come back after they are

out

> > of casts

> > for awhile? I know this is a minor problem, but want to do

everything

> > I can

> > for my child.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Holly thanks for your reply. It's good to know I'm not the only parent who

worries about such trivial things. BTW is 6 days older than my DS.

Joanne and Alaya 8-22-01

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

had 16 casts total in all of our treatments (non-ponseti and then

Ponseti method). A total of 4 1/2, almost 5 months total of casting every

week. Now at 18 months of age her calves are beautifully proportioned and

she has nice calf muscles and shape to them. I was VERY worried thru all of

this that her legs would be overly thin due to so much casting. She still

has some baby fat though so her calves may still be a little thinner than

maybe they would have without clubfoot, but I really don't think it's going

to be noticable. No one has ever mentioned anything about her legs to me,

they think she looks wonderful!

Hope this eases your concerns a little.

Holly and (bilateral, Feb. 11,2000)

Re: Re: question on muscle tone

>Thanks for the replys on muscle tone. I was just curious to know others

>experiences.

>Joanne

>

>

>