United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Jennifer,
Could you remind us again of how old Peyton is?

I am now almost a year post mod quad and am still experiencing gains and changes. With us 'older kids' the gains can continue for an even longer time because the arms are longer and so it can take longer for any nerve changes to reach all the way down.

Re lifting the arm overhead, I was 45 degrees before the surgery, 90 degrees immediately post surgery and now am 105-115. Besides e-stimming it, I have been working diligently on my triceps with active ROM and lots of exercising. Do you have exercises to work specifically on the triceps? I'll be glad to share some with you if you would like.

Nancy

Nancy

Could you share some of the tricep exercises? katie's are quite weak and I would like to avoid e-stim at this time (well, when the caps splint comes off) as we and Dr. Nath don't think she will tolerate it right now. She seems to have a burnout or something and is very intolerable of any therapy with hands on. It would be a great help to us here at home.

thanks

christy

Sure, I don't know how these will work with the little ones but I am sure there are variations that can work.

Lying on my back, I hold a bar, a sawed off broomstick will work, I use a long 1 lb. weight because I'm trying to build strength too. Anyway, using both hands lift (push) that broomstick from flat on the chest up as high as possible. This uses triceps and also deltoid. Once it is high in the air, move the stick from side to side slowly. This will really stretch the tricep. The other hand and arm assists and does most of the work but the bpi arm gets a workout in the process too. This can also be done with a large knobby ball although I have more trouble trying to hold onto it than I do with the stick. My two arms are 6 inches different in lengths so this also adds to the difficulty but I still manage!

In the pool, using one of those flat floats, lay both hands palm down (as much as possible, I can't fully pronate but can at least put the fingers down on the float), push down into the water. The float will not move much into the water but you can really feel the triceps trying to work.

Nancy