Question from my momma

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

So mom is over today for the party and her and Brook were walking all around outside. Mom had a question I didn't know the anwser. Believe it or not LOLOLOL I told her i'd ask you'all.

Mom's question was something to the effect of "Ya know i'm old and I don't remember how babies walk. Do they all have that cute little penguin walk {gait} or is it just Brook and friends just like her?" Hmmmmm ?? I said I diddn't know really. I've seen a few little kids like Brook and they all walk like that. I've seen some older kids that didn't walk like that. I was stumped.

So I guess thats my question in a nut shell. Do all our lovie dovies walk w/ that cute little walk or only some of our kids? I've watched Mary's other little siblings walk and they don't seem to have the cute little waddle but then again I probally wasn't paying that much attention. Help me find an anwser for my momma ;D ;D

[damarasmom]

Well, first of all ...Hello Brook's Grammy!!!
Damara also has the "waddle" as we so fondly call it. My 1st 2 typical children did not. So just from my experience I would have to say that it is due to the DS. But...I sure do agree, it's darn cute!

[CC]

Hmmm interesting, you know I just don't remember. I will have to pull out old videos of both my kids when they started walking, which were many many moons ago

I can tell you thou now both my kids, one with DS and one without, walk just fine Christopher's PT's have always been very very happy with how Chris walks, runs...

CC ~

[pmjc48]

Thinking about it, most but not all of the youngsters and adults I know with DS do have the penguin walk, including Nicky!

[Chris too]

Nope. The waddle is from pronating which needs to be corrected before it causes knee & hip damage. Is Brook getting PT - I forget. Stevie needed short braces to help her keep her feet turned bottoms down for a couple of years. Now she just rolls her big toe & her PT says we should get an insert for her shoe. I think I'll wait a few months because Stevie may grow out of the habit. Our PT also tried taping for awhile, but it didn't "work" for us because it was too much trouble. The important thing about walking is that they do it correctly so that they don't damage their knees, then hips, then backs because of a poor foundation. Our PT is a stickler about it, but it gives me confidence that Stevie will have a good foundation.

I'd ask the PT about it. It could be that it's just a trunk strength thing & it will improve as her trunk gets stronger.

Say "Howdy!" to your Momma for me!

[steffaroni]

I remember when Olivia was born the froggy style way she laid in her crib. And before she started walking we would help her go up stairs putting pressure on her hips and upper thighs to keep em together more cause they always spread out so much. Liv doesn't waddle so much now but boy is she a slowpoke. I age as we walk anywhere.lol (((HUGS))) Steff

[lespring]

Angela has a very unusual gait. Last year when she had a gait analysis done the guy said he'd never seen a gait like hers in a child with DS before. Several other doctors have said the same thing. Then again, Angela has had a "neurological event" (stroke) that affects her left side.

She turns at the waist when she walks. Her upper body doesn't move at all, just her waist. It's very interesting. I'd love to get it on video for you, but alas, I am still without a camera!

[marisa]

I always thought this was a Ds characteristic. With EI and PT, maybe not so much. I always thought that is why the Buddy Walk logo is the way it is ... kinda a wide gait. Just my observation, but probably has nothing to with gait.

Steff, the froggy thing made me laugh! I said that about Laura when she was a baby and Mark got made at me. Then the OT from EI used the "froggy" term. After that it was ok for me to say it.

Marisa

[Jackie]

when em was little they told us her hip jts were quite lax and to get the stability to walk she was locking her knees and that is what caused the waddle...but hers to the extreme didnt last long. I call her gait as an adult..."lumbering" she gets around just fine but I think if you saw her only from the rear...you would figure out she had a disability. However when she dances this all goes away...odd isnt it.

Jackie

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Thx girls I'll print this out tomorrow for her. I think Brook locks her knees too Jackie. Quite interesting everyone. I'll ask the PT next month when I see her as well but you'all know the bestest
And Chris, i'll tell mom you said Hi. She has been nursing sick goats who got out and ate something bad for them. Charcoal beverage all day and barfing goats. Poor momma. They seem better now though

[Jackie]

Oh my...can't think of anything worse than "barfing goats"... ;D

[momofrussell]

Another thing that can contribute to this is if a child doesn't knee crawl prior to learning to walk. It can cause the penguin walk This was told to us by our PT and I've seen it first hand with a typical child also.

A.

[Jessie]

Hey!!! My Jake (non-Ds) penguin walks and he didn't crawl 'normal'. Huh, I didn't know that could be an issue!! My parents call him "Frankie" for Frankenstein, because his knees are locked. Ok, I thought it was funny . . . not so much anymore. Little worried now.


Jessie

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Well Brook's OT was here today and she says she's going to talk w/ the PT but she thinks Brook has VERY flat arch on her little footsie's No arch really. My little flat footed googs Might need to get some arch supports. So we have to practice some shoe wearing in the meantime. Brook is not so fond of shoes just like her momma She does lock her knees Jessie. We are practicing bending at the knee. Any little bit helps and I guess more exercise class is in order and shoe wearing class too LOL

[advocate4myself]

This is very interesting. I am not sure how I walk but, my sister used to say I waddled. I was told I walked like my grandmother but I don't think she waddled. I have one foot that tends to turn inward as I walk. I sometimes trip on my right foot because of this. When my sister observed this in me I didn't like it. I think my walk is fine though. It is simply the way I am. I do have feet problems from time to time. Maybe this is just a sign of age? ;D.....Debbie