Learning to Sit
The video quality is not fantastic, but I'm sitting!
I'm drooling a bit, but I'm sitting! And, if you listen at the end, you might hear Mum laugh at me when I fall on to the pillow! She was very proud of me, that day! |
I'm a kid, and for most kids, sitting is just something they do. They don't even think about it.
But it's different for me. I really want to be able to sit, but my body doesn't always do what I tell it to! I had to work so hard, just to hold my head up. Every day, Mum makes me work on my exercises and my stretches. We're both very brave when she stretches me. I cry sometimes, because my muscles are so tight with my cerebral palsy and the stretches hurt. I know I need to do them, Mum wouldn't do them otherwise. She's brave, because she knows I'm hurting, but she keeps calm and doesn't stop until we finish them all. Every day, she makes me work on my sitting, standing, walking, kneeling and crawling. Every day! But, I'm so pleased that she does... because here is proof that I am now a sitter! 13/6/13 |
A beautiful lady, Karen, bought me my theratogs suit for $500.
The suit is a little bit difficult to explain... It is like an extra skin. It is like magic, in that it 'switches on' my muslces, so I can learn how to use them. We saw an immediate improvement when I started to wear my theratogs. My Theratogs have helped me with my stomach muscles and my sitting. I still need help, but I am getting much stronger. I do daily exercises with Mum and my physiotherapist, Zoe, works with me each fortnight, to help me get stronger and stronger. I am learning to 'hold on' when I am being carried and I need less and less support when being held. August 2013 |
Unfortunately, because of my hip abduction surgery and my femoral osteotomy surgery, I lost my torso strength! I have to redevelop those muscles, and learn to sit... again!
I have to be placed in the seated position, with my legs crossed. I need someone to be close to me, because I can only hold the position for a while. I am mostly good at keeping my head up, and sometimes, I even use my hands to stop me from falling to the side. I have time each day, to learn to sit again, and I have arm wraps, to help support me. Never give up. |
I still need help sitting, but my family can leave me on the couch for longer, before I slouch over. I am be able to sit for about ten seconds at a time - unsupported - before I fall over.
I have to be put into a seated position. Usually, I sit cross-legged, but I also have to do straight legged sitting, to stretch out my muscles. I have arm wraps, to help my arms stay strong, while I am sitting. I work on my sitting every day. Video 10/3/15 |
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Read more - Learning to Stand