Hypermobility and learning to walk

[zen1]

DS is 2.4 and is extremely hypermobile. He has just started taking a few steps (managed 20 the other day - not that I'm counting), but I'm always right behind him as I'm terrified he'll fall and hurt himself. He is very wobbly and if he loses his balance could fall any way (forwards, backwards etc). The other day he was sitting on a low chair, tried to stand up and completely overbalanced and fell in a crumpled heap on the floor. He doesn't seem to have saving reflexes. Does anyone know if this improves or if there's anything I can do to help him?

yay for walking my dd3 was like that when she first started walking at about 20 months, she usually landed on her face. She wouldn't put her hands out in front and I think even if she had they wouldn't have stopped her, she wasn't strong enough. Her physio made it one of her targets. She lent us a gym ball to use, we'd lay dd3 on her tummy on the ball and slowly roll it forward with a toy in front on the floor that she would have to reach for with both hands. Once she'd got the hang of that we removed the toy and she'd learnt to put her hands out she could stop the ball rolling forward, it improved her strength and helped with the reflex iyswim. It took a while for her to get the hang of it but it did work. Ask your physio, they should be able to advise

Thanks Ninja

DS has always absolutely hated being on his tummy and still won't ever lie on his front, so he's never used his hands to push himself up (never crawled, still bum-shuffles), so I guess that hasn't helped! We are seeing the physio next week so I'll ask her about it then. Glad the exercises worked for your dd .

The odd falling seems typical of the syndrome; I think it's to do with lack of proprioception. Remember dd sitting on wharf one day- about 8 or 9 yo- and I thought she was leaning forwards to much so said "dd lean back a bit". On which she promptly leant completely forward and fell into the water. We both got a swim.

She seems to have grown out of it though.

Like NinjaGoose, DS2's physio gave us some exercises to do with him, like sitting him on a gymball and rocking him around so he learnt to put out his hands to balance himself. Anything muscle tone building, like bouncing on a trampette, walking in sand or riving about on softplay helps with stability. DS2, who has ASD with hypermobility and hypotonia also has Piedro boots with inserts and these really help with his stability. He went through a phase, recently of refusing to wear anything but wellies on his feet and the difference was really noticeable. He was stumbling into everything and (more) covered in bruises (than usual).

Though to be on the safe side, she is not allowed to use the stairs at secondary school.

My DD didn't walk till 20 months due to hypermobility - I second the Piedro boots suggestion, and she wore these till she was about 5 and a half. They really helped her to get going and gave her ankles more support than normal shoes. Ask your physio about a referral if you don't already use them.

Fantastic that he's taking steps

My dd has hypermobility along with low tone in her trunk. She walked at 20 months and was very unsteady for a while. She also didn't catch herself when she fell for a long time which caused a lot of very nasty bruises.

Things do improve! Practice and physio (gym ball, balance exercises etc) has helped loads and after a few years of walking dd is mostly steady and often catches herself if she falls - unless she's laughing when she just collapses onto her face!

Thanks for the positive stories. DS also has low tone in his trunk, so he has to work really hard when standing as the muscles around his tummy are lax and he could quite easily bend in two!

He had a pair of ankle support boots but I find he walks really stiffly with those on and he seems much better with a light-weight pair of trainers or bare feet. He doesn't put his feet flat on the ground though; he tends to walk on the inner side of his feet. He still can't kneel and has only recently been able to get up from a lying position (uses his hands to push himself up from lying on his back). It's good to read things do improve!

Ouryve my DS also has other symptoms suggestive of ASD and/or dyspraxia, but we haven't got a diagnosis. However, I've read a few threads saying there might me a link between hypermobility and other disorders. I wonder if any research has been done?

zen1 - that is what dd used to be like - it felt like she would just bend in two! She is compensating by building up her stomach muscles and she's got a fantastic 6 pack already at 3 yrs old! I'm hoping horse riding will also help.

We also found that too much ankle support in shoes can be a hindrance. I bought dd some Kickers boots which she really couldn't walk in as they were too stiff and the soles were very solid. I find she does best in Clarks with some ankle support and trainers.

My DD is now 9 and has Down Syndrome, had (and still does to some degree) delays in gross motor skills, issues with walking, hypermobility...etc.

She was issued with Piedro boots, insoles and eventually they used AFO's to encourage her to bend her knees. I remember she wore an old pair of Timberland boots that my DS had grown out of and the Physio commented on how well they supported too!

I think a balance of supportive and softer footwear was the best way to go for her. It all took a lot of time and energy, LOL for all of us. I would certainly chase some exercises/advice from Physio and possible an OT.

Good luck!x

My ds had terrible balance and motor skills....what am I saying had It does get better though, although we still have lots of issues. The hospital a and e department told me on one of our many visits for ds from falling, that saving reflexes do not develop until they are at least 3, closer to 4, which is why toddlers have an extra thick forehead bone to protect their brains. Good little natural protection as they can't lift their hands to save themselves at this age.

Not wanting to hijack too much, but Cory how is your dd doing?

smashingtime, we also tried kickers but found them too stiff (even though they look so cute!). Dingle, what are AFOs? We are currently on the waiting list for the OT, but seems to be about a year's wait (for most things around our way ) at the moment.

SparkeRainbow, that is interesting about saving reflexes not developing until 3. I had kind of thought they were just instictive from when a child learned to walk. Ds is is on the 91st centile for height and his head is on the 99th, so I am terrified about him having a long way to fall when he topples and wacking his head on the ground! I guess you have to let them toddle off though or they'll never get any practise!

My ds spent much of his toddling years falling over and banging his head. When we moved to the States for 7 months, we had been in the country 2 hrs and hadn't even left the airport before he needed paramedic attention because he fell and banged his head! My ds is just as tall, long way down!

Not that it has got that much better, he fell his morning and subluxed joints...still not all dc with HMS are like this!

Afo short for ankle foot orthois .a type of splinting that can be used isnormally used if piedros are not doing the job .Ds wears them and for him they help and he still has no reflex action when falling but that is more uncommon and he does have other issues going on

dd2 has severe hypermobility and only really started walking confidently with splints (dafos) when she was about 7. She is still too nervous to walk alone, always walks holding hand or with rollator. The splints have made all the difference to her.