toddler with hypermobile ankles and low tone in calves

[WeeLors]

Hi,

I've posted about DS before but he just had an appointment with the orthapeadic surgeon yesterday so I'm after a bit of advice. Bit of background - DS has just turned 2 and still isn't walking. He's been under the care of an orthapeadic surgeon since he was 17mths but has only seen her twice (with 6mths in between appointments). At the first visit she determined that he had hypermobile ankles but didn't offer any treatment as she was of the opinion that he was a confirmed crawler and that it would correct itself once he was walking. Cue her surprise yesterday at his 2nd appointment when he STILL wasn't walking. She examined him again and again noted some hypermobility in his ankles (which has visibly improved since last visit so she was right about that) but also norticed this time that he has extremely low tone in his calves considering he's been cruising for over a year. Anyway, she was bit more proactive this time and has referred him to a physio and a paediatrician (the latter just a precaution to double-check there isn't an underlying developmental disorder - she doesn't think there is though).

Anyway, no idea how long its going to take to get appointments through so I was wondering if anyone on MN had any suggestions for exercises I could do with DS in the meantime. I'm thinking it'll take a while to build up strength in his calves so want to get started asap cos feel he's starting to miss out by not running around with his peers - the sooner the better. He's a very active wee boy so don't think he'd be lazy about trying exercises with me. Currently he'll happily walk holding two hands or around the furniture (not so keen to walk with push along walkers though, never has been). He's also enjoying walking up and down stairs holding our hands at the mo so figure thats a good way to strengthen his calves. We also got him a toddler trampoline for christmas which he likes being on but tends to bounce on his knees so will need to try and encourage him onto his feet. He also likes going swimming although we don't go much during term time as our local pool is attached to the high school (we've been avoiding weekends cos the family session is during his nap time but could try juggling his sleep a bit).

Any other suggestions?

Sorry for epic post and thanks in advance

We were given stretching exercises for DS with hypermobile ankles and follow on assessment due soon (with no noticeable difference from the exercises). Not specifically to strenthen calves but to help him stop rolling in on his feet to walking on the inside ankle bones.

Leg straight, gently push the ball of the foot and toes back until you feel very slight pull in the ligament behind the heel. Be really careful not to stress the knee though.

Would be inclined not to try other folks excercises though as 1. you could get them wrong and do more harm than good, 2. they may be the wrong exercises for his problem. I know it is frustrating but I think you need to wait an dkeep on with what you are doing. Swimming is fab for toning all muscles without strain. I think you are doing the right thing and just need to try to be patient which is impossible I know as we are going through the same quandry.

Thanks bigpigeon
So we're best just encouraging him to use the muscles as much as poss naturally rather than doing specific exercises with him as such? I see your point, don't want to do more harm than good.

Hope your assessment goes well

Ugh. Think we will prob get the brush off again as he is so small for age that insoles and other methods may prove tricky. Frankly I am sick of the exercises as I can't see them doing anything for him. I was thinking about it again today and swimming is probably the best as any physiological abnormalities (for want of a better description) should be minimised as it is not load bearing exercise and they can move more freely. I don't get to take DS because I always have DD in tow, a non swimmer aged 4. It is so frustrating! Expect we will both look back when they are in their 20s and wonder why we got so het up.

My DD2 was and still is hypermobile, mainly in her ankle, knee and hips. She waked, finally at 2 yrs 2 months having had physio and piedro (sp) boots made for her. Glad you are getting specialists involved, as reassurance my DD is now 6 and in Y1, she has no mobility issues whatsoever has just signed up for football club! She is frighteningly double jointed however! Good luck and am sure it will all come good. Our physio advised hunt and find games and games which she needed to be up on her feet for. it was playing eleph fun with her older sister that eventually cracked it (the game where the elephant squirts lots of paper butterflies into the air and you have to collect them with a net, impossible to play sitting down.

I've read about Piedro boots Lulu, they've never been mentioned to us so far but think I'll mention to the physio once he sees her. The games are a good idea, I'll have to devise some for him, he loves catching bubbles so I'll maybe encourage him to stand up more doing something with those.

I think you're right bigpigeon, in 20yrs I'll wonder what I was so worried about whereas at the moment I can see me having to wheel him to his first day of school in a buggy (in that it feels like he'll never walk).