Orthotics for low tone ACC toddler

TMs1stBaby

My 16 month old has low tone and agenesis of the corpus callosum.  She does not bare weight through her feet.  She is not standing or pulling up yet.  She recently started to army crawl, and has been delayed about 3-6 months on most physical skills.  My PT recently suggested orthotics and I am wondering if anyone has any good websites regarding pros and cons of orthotics.  I understand there may be some risk to using them.  Anyone else used these or been advised against use?

ncsubride

My son has AFOs and they have really helped him bear more weight and stand well when placed.

MaxandRuby

I am curious to hear of the risks of using orthotics but only because I haven't heard of any.

DS2 has DAFOs. He has higher tone in his legs but his feet pronate very badly.  They help him stand better and are supposed to be potentially "fixing" the position of his feet (he just got them and I don't know how long he'll wear those before another solution is tried). DS2 is almost 20mos and has recently started cruising. Since he has had his DAFOs (dynamic ankle foot orthosis), he has really started doing a lot more moving (cruising, being interested in using his reverse walker to practice walking, etc.).

Assembly_Reqd

Will she use a walker at all? Johnny Jump Up? I know PT's hate those, but they can help with getting some sensory input from the feet up to the brain. I have never heard anything bad regarding orthotics. Nate wears thumb braces to help get his thumbs out from his palms. We wore the old ones to bed at night, but since we started using new soft braces during weight bearing activities(crawling & ball pushing) he has started to make fists. I think the extra input into his hands may have flipped a switch in his brain about how to purposefully open and close his hands.

Nate has HCC and was delayed the same amount as your DD. He started a lame kinda army crawl around 14 months and by end of 14 he was doing a 'regular' crawl. He was using his arms for power more than his legs which he would keep bent and sort of drag. He started pulling up at 17 months in the crib and now at 18 he is cruising a bit on the furniture. The progression was sooo fast I couldn't believe it. I hope it is the same for your little one too.

mskolman

My son has low tone and just started pulling to a stand in February, right before he turned 2. Our PT recommended we get Sure Fit SMO's now that he is walking with only one-handed support. He just got them and they are very small and he doesn't mind them at all. Our PT thinks he will just take off with the braces now. It is too early to tell how they are helping them, but our PT has had a lot of success with them with other kiddos with low tone. 

I would ask though if you LO is standing at all. I don't think the braces will do much good unless she is bearing weight on her feet. Our PT didn't even mention them until he was doing some standing and walking with support.  

TMs1stBaby

Thanks for all the feed back.  Sounds like you all have had good results.  Regarding risks, I just googled and read a couple articles, so I am no expert, but this was one or them:

https://www.ptproductsonline.com/issues/articles/2006-10_04.asp

DD will only stand for about 10 seconds at a time.  I think her record is about 1 minute, but that is unusual.  I am thinking that she would benefit from these. 

thefuturemrskudla

MaxandRuby:

I am curious to hear of the risks of using orthotics but only because I haven't heard of any.

Depending on the orthotic, the "risk" involves limiting a degree of foot development since the natural movements that build certain muscles, which increase strength and balance reactions, are restricted.

Florak8

I would think as long as you are working closely with a PT, there should be no risk. We got AFOs to help DS learn to bear weight on his feet, and they have helped. They go halfway up the calf. Once he starts standing and stepping on his own, the orthotist will trim them down to the ankle for mobility.

Also, DS only wears them for certain exercises and in his stander. Make sure you understand the duration of time your LO should be in them, and for what activities. 

mrs.beauprez

Hello our DS has C-ACC. He didn't crawl until 18 mo. Leading up to that time our PT or DR never suggested any ortotics...so I dunno. We just really worked with him. He was okay barring weight though...he just didn't have much balance or confidence. He walked at 21 mo and is not running, jumping, walking backwards etc at 24mo. Stay strong it will happen when she' s ready.