strengthening calf muscle/occupational therapy

February 15, 2005

Hi All,

Just thought I'd share in case I haven't already since the calf muscle issue

was brought up recently...

My daughter is now 3 3/4 with a right clubfoot. She is right foot dominant,

so I think that's helped to minimize the difference in her calf size, since

she uses her right foot more than her left. Recently, she received a small

scooter and she loves it! This is a child who does not do well with gross

motor coordination (see below). She scooters around the block a couple times

a day using her right leg to push. I was looking at her calves yesterday and

could no longer see a visible difference between them like I used to. The

scooter is perfect for very young children. It only supports up to 44

pounds. My daughter is nearly 42 pounds, so I'm going to be sad when she

can't use it anymore. I don't think I'll be able to get it away from her...

Here is the link to the scooter on amazon:

ef=pd_bbs_1/002-2287041-2892046?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846

It turns out that my daughter has an inner ear problem that affects her

balance, so she was a year behind in gross motor skills because she didn't

like to be active because of her lack of balance. We have been doing

Occupational Therapy for a few months mostly for the balance issue and for

some sensory issues as well. Anyhoo, the Occupational Therapist (OT) did say

that wearing the shoes and bar did exacerbate her progress, but only because

of the balance issue.

Something very curious: she recently asked if Zoe slept on her back with her

feet splayed out and I reminded her that she had to sleep that way when she

was wearing the shoes for 3 years. Now she's a side sleeper since she

stopped wearing the shoes. The OT said she has parents pin children's pajama

legs together if they sleep like she had to when wearing the shoes and bar.

I'll have to ask her why it's such a bad thing...

So, I know that we've always said that the shoes and bar do not interfere

with normal development, but I guess the keyword is normal or typical. Zoe's

balance issue is not related to her clubfoot, but the clubfoot treatment has

definitely exacerbated her balance issue, so if your child is lagging behind

in gross motor skills, it wouldn't hurt to have him or her evaluated just to

make sure it's not something else.

Hope this helps! Joanne W. mom to Zoe, 3-25-01, right clubfoot

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