New Boots

Well today we went to the orthopedic department and collected Stephen's new stability boots and inserts. He has been wearing splints, more technically know as 'bilateral ankle-foot orthotics" or AFO's for short, for the last 3 years. He needs them because he has totally flat feet, slighty low muscle tone and walks on his toes and this all leads to tight calf muscles and his ankles turning out which gives him knee pains.
On last review with orthotic department they decided the AFO's were a bit of overkill just now and they'd try him in stability boots. The boots don't give as much support as splints and won't help the toe walking so much but the movement in his joints was fairly good and they would like to see how he goes with less support. They will review it again in the future and might go back to the splints depending on how his 'symptoms' are. What happened to if it aint broke don't fix it! I envision a long period of going between afo's and boots over the next few years with all the 'tears' over the changes and that's just from me.
Whilst awaiting the new boots arrival the splints he was outgrowing gave up under the strain and split across the side so he's been wearing normal trainers for the past 2 weeks...I had thought the toe walking was less now but this last fortnight has been an eye opener as he's been tip toeing around more and more every day.
The boots are big black and bulky. He tried them on walked once around the very small room and complained he wanted the inserts taken out and he wasn't going to wear them. He plonked himself back in the chair and they took them off. They said to just 'try' and get him to wear them for a short time in the evenings to build up his tolerance to them, err ok I said nervously - here we go again I thought. Anyway we get to school, about 10 min drive from hospital, Stephen stands up looks down and says why am I wearing these trainers and not the new boots"!!!!