PACE – Pediatric Ambulation Care and Education
By Andrea Lester, MSPT
We would like to introduce a new collaborative gait clinic in the Richmond and surrounding areas. PACE (Pediatric Ambulation Care and Education) is a clinic dedicated to helping children improve the quality of their gait. PACE will formally be accepting patients January 2021. This clinic is a result of the collaborative relationship between Ksenia Major, BOC and Andrea Lester, MSPT.
Ksenia is a board certified pediatric orthotist who specializes in providing children with custom made shoe inserts, Cascade DAFOs, scoliosis braces, and DMOs (Dynamic Movement Orthotic). She is the clinical director at Boston Orthotics and Prosthetics of Richmond. She has been practicing in Richmond since 2009. She is well known in this community for her quality made orthotics, friendly approach to orthotic care, and open minded ideas when helping pediatric therapists fine tune orthotics/braces. She provides services to children at many of the local pediatric facilities including Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Bon Secours, HOPE therapy, Southeastern Therapy for Kids, Spot On Therapy Group, Spectrum Physical Therapy, Aveanna, SOAR365, and Fleming Therapy. Boston O and P has become a well known Orthotics and Prosthetics business utilized by pediatric therapists.
Andrea is also a practitioner who serves families in Richmond, Henrico County, and Chesterfield County. She has practiced as a physical therapist since 1998 and transitioned to VA to work for
therapist at the Bon Air location in addition to also practicing as an Early Intervention Physical Therapist through Spot On Therapy Group, LLC. Andrea collaborates with many therapists at the facilities mentioned above as pediatric clients often participate in a variety of therapies offered at many locations. Andrea treats children ages 0-21 with concerns for the development of gross motor skills. Over the years treating in this area, Andrea has become an asset to the pediatric community specializing in the treatment of infants and toddlers helping them to develop the skills to learn how to walk.
Andrea and Ksenia have worked together for many years as they developed their careers. Utilization of their joint skills has led them to be able to provide quality bracing, therapy, options, and education to families with children of special needs. Through the years, they have identified that Richmond and surrounding areas have a need for a more collaborative approach between therapists and orthotists to address pediatric gait. Together they are building PACE into a clinic for just this purpose. PACE has many goals including:
- Helping children develop the ability to walk
- Enhancing a child’s skills,confidence, and desire to promote quality ambulation
- Identifying abnormalities in a child’s gait (weakness, instability, or lack of movement)
- Decreasing pain with ambulation
life result in pain, surgical intervention, and/or decreased quality of life
- Improving a child’s gait so they conserve energy while walking
- Helping find and trial the most optimal braces for function and comfort
In essence, PACE wants to provide education, brace options, and treatment for pediatric clients so that ultimately each child is given the best opportunity to walk without pain, play with their friends/family, enjoy his/her life, and get back to being a kid!
PACE wants you to know that you are not alone as a parent, therapist, or orthotist. We are here to assist you in any way possible. PACE can provide any child with an comprehensive evaluation of their gait, identification of their strengths/weaknesses/compensations, therapy that they may need, brace fabrication/management/adjustment, education about other medical treatments available that could affect a child’s quality of gait, and/or consultation with your child’s therapists/orthotists to problem solve issues that may be occurring. PACE is currently offering services at the Boston O and P of Richmond office.
To discuss your needs with the team, please contact Andrea Lester, MSPT at 804-792-1098.