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[quote=Anonymous]My DD is 22 mos, and was born with bilateral club feet - both feet turned severely inward, 90 degrees from normal.  Our situation is extreme, but given our experience with surgery, PT and various shoes and braces, I'd like to provide some perspective.

A PP mentioned an older, old-school Ortho surgeon - sounds like Dr. Delahay to me.  A truly gifted surgeon (DD has full range of motion with both feet, which is extraordinary) and tops for peds, but he's not that supportive of PT or any orthotics or braces.  When I pushed for PT, he said "it couldn't hurt".  During her first year she had 2 surgeries and spent about 6 months in casts, so in addition to having abnormal feet she had very underdeveloped leg muscles because of all the time in casts.  In my mind, PT was not just a "nice to have" but a necessity.

When she started PT at 17 mos, she could pull up and cruise along furniture.  Within 3 months she was walking - running, actually.  When we started PT, her feet still turned in, much like someone who is pigeon toed.  PT recommended night braces, in addition to all the other exercises and stretching and within a week the difference from the braces was striking.  Her feet DO NOT turn in any more.  She walks with straight feet, and near perfect form.

I'm sure DD would have eventually learned to walk on her own, but it would have taken longer, and she wouldn't have had proper form, which could cause major problems down the road.  Having the PT point out things wrong with her stride, which I never would have noticed, and how to correct it was invaluable.  My point is that surgeons, and even pediatricians, don't always notice these things.

DD was 18 months when we started the night braces.  They are her "special" or "magic" shoes.  We put them on while reading stories.  We did a couple nights with just the shoes and then added the bar.  She has no problem moving around or standing up in the crib with them, but she's always been resourceful about not letting anything slow her down :)  We don't hesitate to skip the shoes on nights that she's been up late, or teething, but she wears them 90% of the time with  no problem.

As I said, DD's case is extreme, but I have seen what a difference good PT and the night braces, along with gifted doctors, can make.  [/quote]

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