70 chapter 7
“With the hip and thigh strength he has,
he should almost be able to stand on that leg
without the knee bending back,” said Mari.
“Saul, let’s see you try it like this. Pretend
you’re a stork!” For a moment Saul could do it.
“Good!” said Mari. “Every day stand like that
and see how high you can count without letting
your knee go back. Every day try to beat your
old record! Okay?”
“Okay,” said Saul.
Sounds like fun!”
“I guess so,” said Saul.
When the brace was made, they tested it.
Saul said he liked it. At first, when he tried hard,
he could walk without bending his knee back.
But after a few days, his mother complained
that often he would walk, or even stand, with
his knee bent way back as before, and his toes
in the air, like this.
‘WE THOUGHT IT
WOULD WORK
LIKE THIS . . .”
“BUT IN FACT
IT WORKED
LIKE THIS.”
“The stork exercises may help,” said Chelo.
“But I still think he needs a brace. At least at first.”
We must weigh the advantages against the
disadvantages,” said Mari. “A long-leg brace
would keep his knee straight. But it could
weaken the muscles he needs to strengthen.
Since the brace would keep his leg from
bending back, he wouldn’t have to use his
muscles to do it.
A long-leg brace
might weaken the
muscles Saul needs
to strengthen.
“On the other hand, we might try a short-leg
brace that holds his foot at almost a right angle.
Then, to step flat he will have to keep his knee
nearly straight. It could help him strengthen his
behind-the-thigh muscles.”
“Let’s try it!” Everyone agreed, except
Saul.
short-leg
plastic brace
“I have an idea,” said Chelo. “Why don’t
we let the heel stick out behind the shoe. That
way, when he steps, his weight will come well
forward of the back of his heel. This should help
bring his foot down and his knee forward.”
They tried it, and most of the time
(especially when he was reminded) Saul
walked without letting his knee bend back
much.
“THIS WORKED
BETTER.”
Heel extended
backward helps
prevent back-
kneeing.
At home
Saul’s mother
encouraged him
to do his stork
exercises. As his
muscles grew
stronger, he began
to walk without
bending his knee
far back—even in
active play!
rounded front
of sole to
avoid pushing
knee back at
end of step
Chelo brought someone’s old, lower-leg
plastic brace and showed it to Saul. “See how
it will fit right around your leg. It isn’t heavy at
all. Lift it! And no metal joints to get in the way!
What do you say? Do you want to try it?”
Disabled village Children