Bend me, shape me, any way you want me

Louis had his initial visit with Peggy, an Occupational Therapist who specializes in hands and upper extremities, when he was just 5 weeks old. At this initial evaluation, not only did Louis receive his first round of wrist splints, but he also left with weekly appointments in the books to begin serial casting of his upper extremities. Serial casting is a technique to hold his joints in a desired position with soft casts as a means to provide a continuous passive stretch on the muscles resulting in an increase of range of motion in the joints. These casts are changed weekly to focus on gaining range in his elbows and wrists.

First, Peggy measured how far Louis could bend his wrists and elbows so we had a baseline measurement. Next, the casts are applied in a way that stretches the joint. Then, they are removed weekly and his joints are measured again to see what progress has been made! When Louis is not in casts, his parents will use removable splints intermittently to maintain the progress that has been gained with the casts.

Louis does surprisingly well for a little boy with casts, and he doesn't seem to mind them. Mom and dad get to pick the fun colors for Louis, and if you're wondering why he looks asleep in some of these pics, it's because he gets a big meal before his appointments. Serial casting will likely be a reoccurring strategy to gain range of motion in Louis's life. His mom and dad are happy he is handling it well and that he was able to start so early!