Hypochondroplasia kid: sWiMmInG

What is hypochondroplasia?

Hypochondroplasia is a form of short-limbed dwarfism. This condition affects the conversion of cartilage into bone (a process called ossification), particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs. Hypochondroplasia is similar to another skeletal disorder called achondroplasia, but the features tend to be milder.

All people with hypochondroplasia have short stature. The adult height for men with this condition ranges from 138 centimeters to 165 centimeters (4 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 5 inches). The height range for adult women is 128 centimeters to 151 centimeters (4 feet, 2 inches to 4 feet, 11 inches).

People with hypochondroplasia have short arms and legs and broad, short hands and feet. Other characteristic features include a large head, limited range of motion at the elbows, a sway of the lower back (lordosis), and bowed legs. These signs are generally less pronounced than those seen with achondroplasia and may not be noticeable until early or middle childhood. Some studies have reported that a small percentage of people with hypochondroplasia have mild to moderate intellectual disability or learning problems, but other studies have produced conflicting results.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

sWiMmInG

Swimming has been the best thing I've done for Coleman's phisical therapy. The Swim School has been so helpful with adapting to his needs. Going from hating the water to loving it and looking forward to mondays leassons. His strength in his neck was next to none and now he can breath on his own. They are teaching him to flip onto his back from the front, he puts one arm up close to his ear and doing the backstroke. Super cute. His teacher is awesome and so are the other swim coaches. I heart the swim school.