2 replies to this topic

[LouiseT]

One of my clients is asking me if I can work with her 12 year old daughter who has been diagnosed with Legg-Calve Perthes. Apparently quite rare, but all the PT's and doctors have recommended she do work on the reformer.It is a degenerative disease of the hip joint and the goal of treatment is to avoid severe osteoarthritis and early hip replacement.

Has anyone had any experience with this disease? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thanks!

[LAville]

One of my clients is asking me if I can work with her 12 year old daughter who has been diagnosed with Legg-Calve Perthes. Apparently quite rare, but all the PT's and doctors have recommended she do work on the reformer.It is a degenerative disease of the hip joint and the goal of treatment is to avoid severe osteoarthritis and early hip replacement.

Has anyone had any experience with this disease? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thanks!

The disease is usually more prevalent in boys and if diagnosed early the symptoms respond well to treatment. I know someone who's son was diagnosed at 11 and now at age 17 he is fine, and plays many sports including soccer..
If you do not feel confident or comfortable working with conditions like this one, you could always call the PT or Doc who has recommended the reformer and ask about the disease or google it so you have more background information.

Depending on the type of reformer and the size of the girl, doing footwork on the reformer is a good place to start. Make sure that you work in parallel use a pad or pillow bwtween the legs to engage inner thighs and use cues that will help to create a sensation of connecting the head of the femur into the hip socket. Standing by the footbar and using some pressure on the top of the shins when the carriage is returning, can help to stimulate the feeling of drawing the femurs deeper into the hip sockets.

[LouiseT]

The disease is usually more prevalent in boys and if diagnosed early the symptoms respond well to treatment. I know someone who's son was diagnosed at 11 and now at age 17 he is fine, and plays many sports including soccer..
If you do not feel confident or comfortable working with conditions like this one, you could always call the PT or Doc who has recommended the reformer and ask about the disease or google it so you have more background information.

Depending on the type of reformer and the size of the girl, doing footwork on the reformer is a good place to start. Make sure that you work in parallel use a pad or pillow bwtween the legs to engage inner thighs and use cues that will help to create a sensation of connecting the head of the femur into the hip socket. Standing by the footbar and using some pressure on the top of the shins when the carriage is returning, can help to stimulate the feeling of drawing the femurs deeper into the hip sockets.

Thanks for the feedback LAville

Edited by LouiseT, 23 January 2012 - 09:18 AM.