Are the PT's assessing daily positioning needs? Could he benefit from a Benik neoprene vest to help with body awareness? Have they tried functional electrical stimulation? Don't feel like you failed, movement is complicated. Does your son have a lot of unintegrated reflex movement (eg. extensor ) or uses a lot of compensation techniques? Also, have him check his AFO's if he wears them. Get him out of the chairs and onto the floor in prone at lot. It helps with the tightness in the muscles and gives them a nice prolong stretch, this is especially effective over a rolled blanket or on a wedge while doing something he likes. Beth the OT -----Original Message----- From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Cindy Mallory Sent: Friday, February 18, 2000 7:43 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Parent's issues Hi Dina, Thanks for answering about the scoliosis issue. I'm feeling defeated as a parent and we have talked before so I just wanted to hear some words of wisdom. My son, age 8, was scissoring so bad that he was falling constantly on level surfaces. Dr. Nuzzo did bilateral hamstring releases and adductors in June. Now he's not falling anymore, but he's walking with his back arched tremendously and he is hyperextending his left leg. The P.T. and ortho doc told he is hip flexors are tight and he is afraid of falling so he throws his left leg back for support because his trunk is weak. Well this weak trunk is what contributed to the W sitting that we couldn't break him of and the tight hamstrings, etc. No matter how much therapy and exercising we failed. My son is restarting therapetic horseback riding again next month. And he is always in swimming, but where does one find the ROLFING and FELDENKRAIS? We're also looking at treadmills as my son walks straighter on them because he holds onto the bars and doesn't fear balance from truck. Currently, we are working on strengthing with P.T. three times a week. Would an exercise bike or treadmill be better? Please pray for Nate as I refuse to undergo another surgery! I know if he keeps walking this way, scoliosis issues will become prevalent. I'm just realizing there is no cure; new issues continuely arise. Cindy