Tiptoe Troubles

We took Anna to the pediatric physical therapist yesterday for a check-up. She started walking on her tiptoes again a few months ago and I mentioned it to Dr. Miller at her 3 year check-up. She wanted her to start seeing the PT again after checking her range of motion in her feet and noticing how tight she was. The PT, Miss Vicky, (which Anna can now say correctly - it used to be Miss Bicky), said that she probably reverted back to toe walking because of a growth spurt so it's something we'll have to deal with regularly unless we go after this aggressively. To walk comfortably your range of motion in your foot needs to be 15 degrees and Anna is at a 6. So, unfortunately, we're going to have to try leg braces to see if this helps her stay on her heels and stretch her tendons enough that she can overcome this permanently. We take her to the orthopedic specialist in 2 weeks to get fitted and once they are made she'll have to wear the braces for 8 hours a day during awake times. Thankfully the weather will be getting cooler soon and her pants will cover them. She'll need to wear them for at least 6 months or possibly a year. If we don't do anything now, she'll more than likely end up needing surgery that will require cutting the tendons in her heels to loosen the muslces in her legs. We definitely don't want to go there. She also doesn't have much of an arch, is almost flat footed which is genetic, so the braces will have an arch in them which help create one for her. This should keep her from having leg, hip, and back pain and injuries later on. Prayerfully she'll only have to wear the braces for the minimum amount of time and we won't have to deal with this anymore. We're also greatful she's young enough that wearing the braces shouldn't faze her much.