stiffness and walking

Mrs. Destructo

Sooo, my amazing IUGR preemie is trying to walk. I am just blown away! He is such an incredible kid! (his much bigger brother has no interest in walking - but I'm sure that will change when he sees the little guy wandering by).

 But we're having a problem. The little guy is very stiff. He hasn't qualified for PT/OT because he's been hitting his milestones close enough to on time that the state doesn't think he needs it. But his whole little body is stiff, so much so that he's having trouble lifting his little legs to walk (even when cruising or when I hold his hands and lead him around).

Do any of you have any suggestions for exercises, massages, stretches, etc that we can do to help him loosen up? The little dude is desperate to be completely mobile, and I want to help him get there as quickly as possible.

Thanks!

TriciaJoy

Our OT has us doing some stretches with Robbie because his legs were so stiff. They actually attribute a lot of it to his reflux/digestive issues because he doesn't lke to put pressure on his tummy.

Three times a day I stretch his hamstrings. Basically I just straighten his legs and lift and give a gentle stretch.

Then I do some bends where I sort of push his knees up to his chest. It causes him to bear down in his tummy a little. It helps both his legs and his stomach.

I've seen a HUGE difference in just a week. He wasn't pooping on his own before this.. I was having to give him a glycerine almost every day. He's now pooped on his own for 6 days in a row.. and he's had a LOT less trouble with gas.
Obviously that's not why you're asking, but it's just a very real sign of things improving. His legs feel a lot looser, too.

I also give him a massage in the mornings and at night. His calf muscles are super tight, so I massage them with some baby lotion.

surprisingly the only part he minds is the massage. I think his muscles are so tight that the massage hurts a bit. I've had to relax it a bit so he doesn't cry. Poor little fella.

 

hollyoid7

I don't have any advice (you are the one I go to for advice...lol)..But 13 months that is great!!!!

Mrs. Destructo

Thanks for the ideas, Tricia. Little Leo still has pretty terrible reflux, and I'm wondering if those stretches might help him too.

Holly - I can't believe he's so close to walking! He hasn't even hit his adjusted birthday yet!

AviatorJJ

have you tried swimming? is there in indoor pool you could go to?

TriciaJoy

The other thing we do for tummy stuff is essentially sits up.

keep in mind, of course, that Robbie is only 4 mo adjusted, so we're worlds' apart here.

But I just grab his hands and he pulls up and I say "SO BIG!" He tries to 'cheat" and keep his hips straight and not bend at the waist. Again- trying not to put pressure on his tummy. But I just start over and we do it again.

it's funny (and sad) how much he grunts when we do it. That pressure on his tummy really gets him.. But it's doing SO much for him.