Case Report
Dynamic splinting home therapy for toe walking: a case report
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* Corresponding author: F Buck Willis buckphd@yahoo.com
- † Equal contributors
1 Methodist Hospital, Park Nicollet Rehabilitation Services Park Nicollet Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416, USA
2 University of Phoenix, Axia College, E. Elwood St., Phoenix, AZ 85034, USA
3 Dynasplint Systems, Clinical Research, Ritchie Highway, Severna Park MD 21146, USA
Cases Journal 2009, 2:188 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-188
Published: 10 November 2009Abstract
Serial casting is frequently prescribed for toe-walking but that does not allow continued physical therapy (PT). This report described a child and family who chose dynamic splinting (DS) with concurrent PT for treatment. The patient presented with right hemiparesis; below average motor skills and a gait pattern of toe contact (without ankle foot orthosis). Four months of PT plus 6 hours/night of DS as home therapy, the patient's passive dorsiflexion increased 14° and she gained the ability to walk in "flat foot" contact without the Ankle Foot Orthosis. This concurrent treatment achieved improved gait pattern and strength training not possible with casting.