Ok, I noticed no one else attempted to answer, at least not on the
listserve.  Let me start with the caveat that you should also discuss your
concerns with the PT.  It seems you have a lot of unanswered questions but,
I'll try to clarify some the issues.  Snippets are inserted into your email.

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of BrightIs
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2000 2:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Questions about Evaluation from PT.


First let me apologize for any cross posting.

This is what I have a question on.  The re-evaluation of Zachary states =
over and over again "decreased or decreasing muscle tone in trunk and =
extremities, especially in the hands.
<Snip>
You have to learn the difference between muscle tone and strength.  Muscle
tone in simple terms is what your muscles are doing right now to keep your
posture.  One example of high tone folks for example are people who have
spastic cp or hypertonia, low tone folks are hypotonic, floppy kids like me.
Strength is what you need to muster to get work done.  High tone folks are
neccessarily (sp?) more strong than low tone folks.


And decreased strength for age.

<snip>
This just means that compared to other children his age, your son is weaker,
not as strong.  When righting up evals for services, therapists have to
state where your child is developing differently than expected compared to
other childen his age.

What are they meaning ?  Is this going to continue or what ? =20
They also stated " anterior pelvic tilt,

<snip>
put your hands on your illium, the top part of your hips, when this part is
pointed more to the front of the body, medical folks call that an anterior
tilt, you need some of an anterior tilt for proper body alignment.

 mild protruding abdomen with an =
associated increased lumbar lordosis,
<snip>
Basically, his stomach is pushing forward, probably due to the forward tilt
of his hips, lumbar lordosis means that the spine in the lower part of the
back is rounded forward


 mild pronation bilateral feet."
<snip>
This means his ankles are bending .  bilateral means both sides


 =
Can someone please tell me what all of this means ?
The therapist keep wanting to "correct" his sensory issues and =
strengthen him.  But according to his doctors because of his diagnosis =
his muscle tone will probably not increase much from where it is now.

<snip>
If not correct, than try to ameliorate the affects of sensory and tone
issues.  Remeber, you can generally change strength unless there is an
underlying disorder but, after a certain age average muscle tone will not
change without continued underlying reasons.
 =

And if his strength and tone is decreasing what could be causing all of =
this.
I still think he is having a malabsorbtion problem. His GI and Genetic =
doctor have mentioned this in the past, but they seemed to have put it =
on the back burner for now.  He has not regained the weight he lost =
during his last hospital stay, and I cannot get him to eat any more than =
he is now.  Any suggestions ?

<snip>
Have you gotten your doctor to reccommend a nutritionist to suggest a weight
gain diet?  There are several reasons for your sons  inability to gain
weight and you need to discuss this with our doctors.

Thanks guys, you are all a God send to me.
Deborah mom of 4

Hope that helps, it's must be very frustrating for you.

Beth the OT