RE: preemie-l Preemie Legs
Sheena L Carter (scart01@emory.edu)
Wed, 19 Jun 1996 16:33:23 -0400 (EDT)
"Toe-walking" can be just an indication of leg muscles still being a bit
too weak for walking. It is extremely common in former preemies,
however, and frequently results from increased extensor tone at the
ankles. You may even be able to feel this yourself if you try to flex the
feet back & forth at the ankles with your hands (child seated, of course)
-- you feel increasing resistance to the movement even if the child doesn't
mind it. Physical therapy usually helps tremendously, and in some cases is
necessary to improve muscle tone for walking. If you have any suspicion
that her ankles are too tight, it never hurts to have a physical
therapist ("physiotherapist" there, I believe) check them out. Ask your
pediatrician for a referral -- he or she may be able to relieve any
worries during a quick check in the office or perhaps even a phone call.
Sheena
(NOT A PT!)
On 19 Jun
1996, dickerg wrote:
> Hi
>
> Only last week I was thinking to myself should I be concerned about Harriet
> standing on her tippy toes!
>
> She has recently started to pull herself up on the furniture, etc, and trying
> to walk with her walker, but always with tippy toes. I have tried to get her
> to stand with both feet to the ground but to no avail. It seems that she is
> much more comfortable on her toes. When I try to get her to stand properly,
> she gets very uncomfortable and her posture becomes awkward. She refuses to
> move and try to walk until she is back on those tippy toes!
>
> Mummmy to Harriet, 15 months old (27 weeker 2lb 4ozs)
> _______________________________________________________________________________
>