DYNAMIC SERIAL CASTING | therapy-kare

Dymanic Serial Casting

Not a foot/ankle problem, but a brain problem affecting the entire body.

Changing the motor movement, changes the motor map and thus alters a child’s alignment and how they walk. If a child does not work on movement patterns or muscle weakness addressing appropriate timing and alignment, then the child is going to continue to present with poor movement patterns. Correcting alignment corresponds with children using their appropriate muscles when walking and then you can work on strengthening their body in the new alignment.

Each child responds and progresses with serial casting differently depending on the level of spasticity, tone, tightness and contracture, need for re-alignment, response of soft tissues to prolonged stretch, degree of boney deformity prior to casting, and tolerance to casting.

Patient population who would benefit:

Toe Walkers (musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, or sensory)
Club foot
Any foot/ankle deformity that limits dorsiflexion range of motion and proper alignment.

Dynamic serial casting objective is to manipulate and correct alignment of foot and ankle to:

Improve length of the muscle, especially those with increased or decreased muscle tone that are preventing good overall postural alignment.
Improve development and prevent malformation of bones during standing.
Increase mobility.
Decrease abnormal stress as this patient moves, functions, and grows.
Prevent deformities
Improve overall standing posture and gait.
Helps control lateral deviation of calcaneus.
Decrease compensation and pressure on the feet.
Help control uncompensated excessive forces.
Improve boney positions.