Crouched Gait? Cerebral Palsy? Try This Mealtime Hamstring Stretch 🦵🏽🪑 | Moderate CP PT #60

🎥 Watch All Alexis Videos (Playlist) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjNQyu5vJsft6bWiGCmEU-nR 👋🏽 Hi, I’m Amy Sturkey, a retired pediatric physical therapist with over 35 years of experience. Please meet my wonderful co-instructor, Alexis Sanderson 👧🏻💕 (now a teenager and growing fast!). Alexis has GMFCS level 3 cerebral palsy. She communicates non-verbally using a communication device and has an excellent understanding of everything said to her. ✨ Functionally, Alexis: • Walks well with trunk support 🚶🏿‍♂️ • Walks fairly well with two hands held 🚶🏼‍♀️ • Walks short distances with one hand held 🚶🏽‍♀️ • Walks in a walker (with help to steer) 👨🏾‍🦽 • Uses a wheelchair for longer distances 👩🏻‍🦽 • Is learning to drive a power wheelchair 🙌🏿 In this video, I demonstrate a practical way to incorporate a prolonged hamstring stretch into Alexis’s daily routine while she sits in her Rifton Hi-Low Chair during meals. 🪑✨ ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 0:17 Growth spurts and increasing hamstring tightness 0:29 Using the Rifton Hi-Low Chair for positioning 0:41 What research says about stretching in cerebral palsy 1:00 Why prolonged positioning matters more than brief stretches 1:08 Setting up the hamstring stretch 1:21 Using pillows, a stool, and a tray for support 1:37 Preventing leg rotation during the stretch 1:47 How the hip strap improves positioning 2:01 Potential benefits for standing and walking 2:14 Alexis says goodbye 2:20 Subscribe information ⚠️ The Movement Challenge As children with cerebral palsy grow 🌱, their bones often lengthen faster than their muscles can adapt. During adolescent growth spurts, muscle tightness can become much more noticeable. For Alexis, one area that has become significantly tighter over time is her hamstrings. Tight hamstrings can contribute to: • Difficulty standing upright 🚶🏾 • Difficulty walking efficiently 🚶🏻‍♀️ • Reduced comfort in sitting and positioning 🪑 • Increased effort during daily activities 🙋🏽‍♂️ 🧠 What the Research Says Research suggests that short-term stretching often produces only temporary improvements in muscle length for children with cerebral palsy. Longer-term changes generally require longer periods of stretch through positioning and daily routines. 🧩 The Positioning Setup During a meal in her Rifton Hi-Low Chair, I place: • One leg on a small stool 🦵🏿 • Pillows underneath for support • A tray over the top for stability 🍽️ • A sash to help keep the leg from rotating outward The goal is to create a gentle hamstring stretch that Alexis can tolerate comfortably for a longer period of time. One feature I especially appreciate on the chair is the hip strap. By helping keep her pelvis positioned well, it reduces the tendency to posteriorly tilt and lose the effectiveness of the stretch. 💡 Why This Matters Rather than adding another therapy session to the day, this strategy uses time Alexis is already spending sitting for meals. 🍽️ When tolerated well, prolonged positioning may help: • Maintain hamstring length 📏 • Improve comfort during standing 🚶🏿‍♀️ • Support walking activities 🚶🏼 • Integrate stretching into everyday life 👨🏾‍👩🏽‍👧🏻 Sometimes the best therapy solutions fit naturally into a family’s routine. ✨ 🌐 More from me Website: www.pediatricPTexercises.com Facebook: Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises 📧 Email: amysturkey@gmail.com ⚠️ Important Note These videos are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for in-person pediatric physical therapy. Every child is unique. I cannot provide treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated. For specific guidance, please consult a local pediatric physical therapist. 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey (Amazon) Children’s Books: C is for Cerebral Palsy — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP P is for Poop and Pee Accidents — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 A is for Anxiety — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR D is for Down Syndrome — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 A is for Autism — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB Professional PT Books: Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD