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Serial casting for toe walking?

5 replies

Jerbil · 06/11/2015 01:43

Just wondered if anyone has experience of this? Not sure if this will even be a suggestion but am waiting for a referral to Orthopaedics for DS2 on the suggestion of a private physio. Gp referred to NHS Ortho, thankfully! Just want to gather thoughts before just in case as DS2s podiatrist says serial casting is really bad as it leads to muscle wasting.

One of the thoughts of the physio was that he might need serial casting as he has very tight Achilles tendon, calf muscle and hamstring. We've been doing stretching exercises for about 2 years but getting nowhere.

Any thoughts, or knowledge about this gratefully appreciated. Thanks

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Ineedmorepatience · 06/11/2015 10:25

It was briefly suggested at Dd3's orthopedic appointment! She has the same issue, we are trying some new stretches where I do the work because she is very demand avoidant at the moment and we have just removed her from school so are trying to de stress her!

We are seeing the physio at the hospital in december where I hope we will be given more info!

Hope you get some help Flowers

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Stampingduck · 08/11/2015 20:11

We've just completed 2 weeks (2 lots of a week) in casts. My dd got around fine in them and was generally a far happier child. They did the job of improving her range of movement and for the first day she walked so much more 'normal.' However we've had to delay casting her moulds for afos as she had sore feet and they didn't want to traumatise her. In the few days we've waited she's back up on her toes and as unsteady as ever. She's also back to being a very angry, unhappy little girl. She flat refuses to walk anywhere holding hands, from a to b, but walks around on tiptoes when she's doing what she wants. I'm pretty upset by the whole experience to be honest. She screams now if I touch her feet/legs (nappy changing has become hell) and I'd argue she's worse now as she lost her strength and her feet seem to roll more.
However, she's very unique I think in that casting didn't help. My research before we went ahead made it look very positive. Best of luck whatever you decide

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Fourarmsv2 · 11/11/2015 08:04

A friend's son has casts for CP and toe walking. He also has Botox injections. Not sure if it's a similar issue?

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Ami30 · 05/12/2015 08:11

We are just are just about to start serial casting on Tuesday for my nearly 2 year old after trying stretches for a while with no success. Rather apprehensive about the whole thing. Not sure if it will help and how he will react to it, but feel we need to try it as he falls over a lot and can't run or jump which frustrates him. We shall see!

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Bonkerz · 05/12/2015 08:27

My DD had casts about 2 years ago for tight Achilles. She had been a toe walker for years and age 7 started suffering pains in her hips because of it.
She spent 4 weeks in casts. Got around fine and had 'shoes' for them so could still go out. She stayed in a week longer to try to break to toe walking habit and the casts covered her toes so she couldn't toe walk!
2 years on and she sometimes needs reminding not to toe walk but we've noticed if we choose the right shoe style she can't toe walk anyway and is now in a better walking habit (heel toe)

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