Hello. My name is Abby. I'm eight years old and I was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome when I turned two. My parents work hard to help me make sense of the world around me and this blog is meant to help others understand my world and my journey with Rett Syndrome.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

workout time!

Last night, we bought a treadmill for Abby. We have been looking for one that we can prop the back up, so that it mimics walking downhill. Most new ones will stop if they are not lying flat, so we found an old one for $60 at a used sporting goods store. Yay!



Since she's still unsteady, I am just having her walk for a few minutes on it a few times a day. When she starts walking like she used to (which she will soon, hopefully), we will try walking downhill. We are having her practice the movement of walking down steps by walking downhill on a treadmill. At the conference, a presenter said that walking on a treadmill showed the same results as a session of physical therapy in a study they did with girls with Rett. Abby doesn't mind it, especially if she can watch a video while she walks. While we will always support her at her waist her arms, I do want to make something to go in front of her to hold on to. Maybe I can tie something to the handles, which are way too far apart for her to reach right now.

It does seem funny that she is the one person in the house that we want to gain weight, and she is walking on the treadmill.

2 comments:

  1. I hope that works out for her! You and Wes are doing such an amazing job with her. Sending you lots of love!

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  2. Thanks so much, Kelly. She keeps us on our toes. I'm sure he novelty of the treadmill will wear off, but, for now, she is doing well with it.

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