Sprouting Up Therapy

01/28/2026

In case you missed it, there is still time. Grab yourself a piece of chocolate cake!

01/25/2026

01/24/2026

It's okay to exercise outdoors but being safe. If it is too bad, you can exercise indoors. I frequently do Little Sports exercise videos on YouTube with my kids to keep moving.

01/21/2026

It's National Hug Day for all you huggers!

I had a patient tell me to "bring it in heart to heart."

Heart to Heart for a hug is giving a deep, intentional embrace where you align your chests (hearts) to create a strong, intimate connection, often by approaching with your left sides to make your hearts touch first, fostering bonding, intimacy, and reducing stress by releasing oxytocin, especially when held for 20 seconds or more. It’s a powerful gesture for building trust, resolving conflict, and showing profound care beyond a casual hug.

01/20/2026

New Blog Post Coming Soon!

01/19/2026

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common secondary complications for children with other medical diagnoses. It is caused by growth abnormalities of the hip joint causing hip instability or capsular laxity which results in subluxation or dislocation of the femoral head.

Risk factors include family history, breech presentation at time of delivery, congenital talipes calcaneo-valgus. Other contributing factors include torticollis and oligohydramnios, and poor hip positioning in infant carriers or W sitting. It is also more prevalent in females as compared to males.

It is usually suspected with a few physical therapy tests and confirmed by ultrasound up to 6 months of age and radiograph (x-ray) after 6 months old. If hip dysplasia goes undiagnosed or untreated, a child can develop early onset moderate to severe osteoarthritis, delayed bone ossification, back pain, knee pain, leg length discrepancy, and gait abnormalities.

Bracing is the gold standard for treatment for patients under six months of age and when identified early. Depending on the severity of instability in the hip joint and onset, surgical intervention is often necessary to position the hip joint properly, followed by three-six months in a spica cast.

Early physiotherapy leads to a reduction in the rehabilitation duration, providing important results in terms of the acetabular angles, and an improvement in the general functionality as well. A physical therapist can help educate parents/caregivers on proer position/carriers to promote healthy hip development.

Have questions, contact me today 936.213.0723.

01/17/2026

Here is a screening tool utilized by therapist to assess toe walking and attempt in finding the cause.

If you answered these questions the same as the answers on the right hand side, please have your child evaluated.

01/16/2026

Long-term effects of Toe Walking

An equinus gait (toe walking) is energy-costly, as it causes the ankle and knee joints to lock out, thereby preventing the transfer of energy in the form of momentum through the legs. The forward movement of the body that is normally achieved by a heel-toe gait is absent. Additionally, toe walking causes compensatory strategies throughout the rest of the body that can lead to long term imbalances and eventually pain and dysfunction. These postural compensations will impact lower extremity muscle length, posture, core stability, and vision. The postural implications can also play a role in scapular and shoulder function, thus setting the child up for a life time of dysfunction.

01/16/2026

Treatment for Tip Toe Walking

Depending on the cause of the toe walking, treatment may vary considerably.

Monitoring for idiopathic toe walking to see if the child “outgrows” the condition.

Passive stretching and calf massage.

Desensitisation with increased sensory feedback to the heels of the feet.

Heel raises in the shoe that progressively reduce with a stretching regime and increased sensory feedback.

Carbon fibre plates inside the shoe to prevent toe walking in severe habitual cases.

Night splints, SMO or AFO braces or serial casting may be necessary, if there is a reduction in calf range of motion.

Botox is used in severe cases to paralyse the calf muscles to prevent resistance to stretching, most often used with serial casting.

Surgical lengthening of the Achille tendon may be necessary if conservative treatment fails. This is normally day surgery and done in conjunction with serial casting for 6 weeks and bracing.

Referral to a specialist for serious neuro-muscular disorders causing toe walking.