In 2018, I learned about SMOs when our Physical Therapist recommended them for my 2.9-year-old daughter Veda. At that time, Veda was struggling to stand without support and had difficulty stabilizing her ankles, often losing balance after a few seconds. To address these challenges, we sought help from a Physical Therapist.
After a detailed session and assessment, we were recommended regular therapies and SMOs for her.
My first reaction was, now what is SMO??
SMO stands for Supra Malleolar Orthotics
The process went smoothly for Veda. An orthotics specialist came, met Veda, took her measurements, made a cast, and gave us a couple of weeks to prepare the orthotics.
Children with DownSyndrome have low muscle tone or hypotonia, ligamentous laxity (loose ligaments) which contributes to orthopaedic problems. Most of the time, walking also comes late due to low muscle tone & joint instability.
In our case, SMO was recommended for excessive pronation, difficulty maintaining balance, and issues related to weight-bearing.
SMO has greatly helped Veda in improving her balance, supporting her foot, and enhancing her postural stability and weight bearing.
Challenges:
It can be difficult to find a suitable physical therapist for children who require SMOs to address foot issues. Even in large cities, it can be challenging to find skilled therapists and orthotics. Additionally, finding suitable shoes to fit SMOs or other braces is another level of challenge.
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