MARTINEZ:
Martinez a young woman also with arthrogryposis. She had received therapy since a small child and was now on her own stretching and strengthening home maintenance program. Her evaluation revealed: 4/5 triceps bilaterally and a functional fist bilaterally. No active elbow flexion and no shoulder abduction or forward flexion and a large sulcus sign bilateral shoulders. Martinez was able to apply passive elbow flexion for feeding and drinking. She demonstrated a high level of function using compensatory techniques for feeding and other ADLs. Martinez was hoping that the doctors could give her elbow flexion. Tendon transfers for elbow flexion have proven to be unreliable much of the time. It would be too risky to take a high functioning muscle and move it for an undesirable result. Therefore, it was decided that Martinez had reached maximum benefit from therapy and future surgeries for her arms.