Alfiya, a 5-year-old girl residing in the rural area of Gegal near Police Chowki, faced significant challenges in her early development. Her father, Mohd. Atif, works as a laborer in an urban area, and she lives in a joint family setup with her mother, siblings, and grandparents.
Initially, Alfiya struggled with basic motor skills and communication. She couldn’t sit on her own or speak monosyllabic words, and she relied on assistance for her daily needs. Social interaction held little interest for her. Recognizing her needs, the Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) program suggested admission to Minu Manovikas School, Chachiyawas, where she began her educational journey in July 2022.
Alfiya’s path to improvement started with a focused physiotherapy program tailored to her needs. Over the course of four months, she underwent various interventions to address her specific challenges:
- Stretching exercises targeted her lower limbs, focusing on hamstrings, adductors, and tendo Achilles tendons.
- Upper limb strengthening exercises facilitated her ability to walk with walkers.
- Physio ball activities aimed at enhancing trunk control through pelvic tilting exercises.
- Bolster exercises aided in transitioning from sitting to standing and maintaining balance.
- Bilateral AFOS and knee gaiters were provided to improve her gait and posture.
- With consistent support and encouragement, she progressed from assisted walking with a walker to independent mobility.
- Emphasis was placed on long sitting and forward bend positions to further enhance her posture and mobility.
Presently, Alfiya has shown remarkable improvement. Her gait no longer exhibits scissoring, and she can maintain various sitting and standing positions independently. She walks with a walker, navigating her surroundings with increased confidence. Socially, she has blossomed, demonstrating improved communication skills and a willingness to interact and share with others.
Moving forward, the focus remains on strengthening her lower limbs and enhancing her postural control to achieve complete self-dependence in mobility. Alfiya’s journey highlights the transformative power of tailored interventions and dedicated support in overcoming developmental challenges.