Ask a PT Response: "Has she seen a PT? Rest and addressing the inflammation would be the first step to allow the healing process to take place. A good stretching and strengthening program should also be incorporated based on the findings from the PT. Taping can be done when returning to dance but not recommended if she persists to have pain and inflammation. Return to dance too soon before all the issues have been addressed is ill advised. I hope this helps.

Our user replied: "Thanks for the advise.she has pain only when over using.Just wondered how long this will last.shes having physio already had 2 sessions. Any idea how long the inflammation will last.been going 2 years.shes stopped all actives 5 months now"

Ask a PT Response: "Hard to say as everyone is different. Results can expected to be seen usually after 4-6 weeks of therapy."

Our user replied: "That's hopful.or will I have to wait until sge stops growing."

Ask a PT Response: "If the PT can address all the issues ie. Flexibility, weakness, mechanics, joint mobility, etc her condition should hopefully be able to be under control. Compliance with a home exercise program along with any other instructions recommended by the therapist should be followed to minimize exacerbation of condition."

 

Ask a PT Response: "Usually for children with Sever's disease a good stretching program is essential with a focus on the heel cord and calf. Ice and orthotics are incorporate as well. Here is a link to an informative handout with exercises for Sever's Disease: http://chortho.com/pdf/sever-disease-brochure.pdf . If his condition doesn't improve, it may be a good idea to have him work with a PT to address this issue."

 

Ask a PT Response: "Hemiparesis is weakness on one side of the body. It is often assoicated with injury to the brain or spinal cord. If you suspect something, I would first talk to the PT that performed the evaluation and see if he or she has any concern. If there is concern, medical imaging of the brain or spine would mostly likely be the next step to determine if there are any issues. There could be alot of other issues that may contribute to weakness, ie muscle imbalances, hypo or hypermobile joints, etc. I would be hesitant to jump to conclusions given the lack of information you have so far. I wish the best for your daugther."

 

Ask a PT Response: "In general, weakness due to neurological causes are rooted in the nerves or spinal cord levels that innervate specific muscles. These are called myotomes. They are a classification based on the level of the cord that the nerves originate from, regardless of which muscle the nerve actually serves. For example, spinal cord levels C2-C8 are generally responsible for innervation of the neck and upper body. Specific muscles are then be innervated by branches from multiple levels. These nerves that innervate muscle are also classified as motor nerves, which are distinct from sensory nerves, but run together. It would not be surprising that motor nerves may be damaged or present with other deficits since there already exist sensory processing disorder as well. As to the nature of what is actually causing these nerves to malfunction, the answers could be widely varied. The pathway of these nerves include the brain, the path from the brain to the spine, then from the spine to the muscles. Deficits could arise from any of these areas. Brain function or signals that travel from the brain to the cord could be disrupted for a number of reasons, from developmental disorders to tramautic injury. If this is intact, the problem could be at the spinal cord, where the transmission relayed does not pass through to the rest of the body. Again there are various reasons for this. If the problem is not here, then it could be with the specific nerve that enters and innervates the muscle. Its ability to recruit muscle units to control and fire may be compromised.

 

These are all valid reason for weakness due to neuro causes, However specific reasons for this are wide and diverse. Therefore, further testing would be warranted."

 

Ask a PT Response: "The University of Michigan Health System has a good web page that has the information you are looking for: http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/devmile.htm
They have a lot of links on this page to another great website healthychildren.org
http://www.healthychildren.org/english/Pages/default.aspx
I hope this helps."

 

Ask a PT Response: "Please refer to our article on wry neck: http://www.cyberpt.com/torticollis.asp for more information. Physical therapy is the treatment of choice for torticollis (wry neck) and is most often very successful. I would consult with your child's pediatrician to see if he or she has any recommendations for physical therapists who work with children and this condition. Your child's therapist will be able to give you futher information as far as frequency of visits and appropriate home exercises tailored to your child's individual needs."

 

Ask a PT Response: "My suggestion would be for you to have a more thorough discussion with your child's pediatrician and together develop a plan. The pediatrician will be able to give you much better insight for what to do, as he or she will already be familiar with your son and what his issues are. I wish you and your son the best."

Stu