Cerebral Palsy
Symptoms
Paediatrics living with cerebral palsy may experience a variety of symptoms, such as:
- High muscle tone, leading to tightness
- Low muscle tone, leading to excess flexibility
- Overactive muscles
- Uncontrolled movements
- Spasticity (a catch when moving the muscle through range of motion)
- Difficulty to maintain lower limb or overall posture
Orthoses for Children Living with Cerebral Palsy
Foot Orthotics
Foot Orthotics are typically used when the symptoms are low to mild. These may be used on both or just the unaffected side.
Foot Orthotics can be custom made or customised, and are often used to support collapsing arches of the feet and provide a base of support.
Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses (KAFOs)
A KAFO is considered when an AFO is not supportive enough. KAFOs extend to near the knee, which offers structural support to help the patient keep themselves upright.
At Orthotics Plus, we believe in a “just enough” approach, we want children to use their own muscles as much as possible. Overall, the prescription of KAFOs is rare in peadiatrics.
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)
The FES can be used in circumstances where children have foot drop and no significant rolling in/out of their foot or spasticity.
This device provides electrical stimulation in the muscle, which is a factor for patient compliance. Typically FES is considered for older children, not young children.
Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs)
There are a lot of different types of AFOs, however, the primary objective is to optimise the lower limb alignment.
When a patient is experiencing abnormalities in standing or walking, we’ll consider the potential for an AFO. AFOs also have the potential to help control knee instability and prevent/reduce the development of calf muscle contractions, as well as improve weight-bearing stability.
A correctly prescribed and worn AFO may also improve the development of other muscle groups above the ankle, such as the knee and hip as well as assisting to develop overall co-ordination and a smoother gait.
Footwear Modifications
Footwear modifications are a common treatment pathway because they are low risk/low cost. Footwear modifications often result in positive changes to lower limb walking and stability.
These are often combined with an AFO to make even more improvements than what an AFO would achieve on its own. Custom-made orthopedic shoes are only considered in certain circumstances when the child has foot deformities that do not fit well into traditional shoes.
We can provide advice on which shoes are suitable for a child wearing an AFO. Some shoe modifications can be done inside the shoe, while others may require us to modify the outside of the shoe. This can all be done onsite.
In What Ways is Orthotics Plus Part of my Child’s Long-term Healthcare?
Orthotics Plus is able to treat paediatric patients from very young to adulthood.
As your child grows, their needs, prescriptions and goals might change. We can reassess what is appropriate and work alongside the parents in an effort to maximise outcomes.
We work closely with our patients, taking time to trial equipment as well as fabricate solutions that lead to meaningful outcomes.
When is the Right Time to Contact Orthotics Plus?
Early intervention is always best because we may be able to prevent different deformities and muscle tightness as much as possible.
As such, a parent can contact us after giving birth to their child, or at any stage thereafter.
If your child is experiencing any symptoms, or you would like to learn more about possible equipment supports, this is another time to contact us.
Orthotics may play an important role in helping a child develop their gross motor skills and Orthotics Plus will work alongside your healthcare team.
To contact Orthotics Plus, please use our clinical locations page.
Wait Times
Orthotics Plus endeavors to see patients quickly and ensure we do not have excessive wait times. We will generally be able to see your child within a week for a complex appointment and often the same day for something simple such as a strap repair or minor AFO adjustment.
