By Veronica Glen, PT, DPT When Physical Therapists see a clumsy or uncoordinated child, one of the first thoughts we think is “That kid can use some balance training!” or “They could benefit from functional activity practice!” What current evidence based research is finding is that strength and power training can be just as helpful if not MORE helpful than…
Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by one too many copies of chromosome 21. This extra copy changes the typical way the brain and body develop. As a result, individuals with Down Syndrome can face both physical and mental challenges from birth onward, such as delayed developmental milestones. Other possible challenges include: Low Muscle Tone Decreased Strength Poor Balance and…
Developmental Coordination Disorders (DCD) in Children What are they? These are delays in a child’s motor skills or a difficulty in a child’s ability to coordinate movements. What are the key traits of DCD? Affects 5-8% of school aged children to perform everyday tasks Often occurs with a learning disability, ADHD, Speech and Language Disorder, and behavioral problems Can persists…
Does your child have difficulty going up and down the stairs? Here are some fun ideas to help your child work on walking up and down the stairs reciprocally (placing one foot on each stair). Use Visual Cues: It can be helpful for kids to see exactly where you want them to put their foot when going up the steps. You…
In a 2008 survey of 400 physical and occupational therapists, two-thirds responded that they had seen an increase in gross motor delays in infants over the previous 6 years. Those that saw an increase in developmental delays said that “lack of tummy time” is the number one contributor the increase in cases. Tummy time is crucial for your infant’s development…
Sometimes toe-walking is related to diagnoses such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Other times, there is no apparent cause for a child’s toe-walking. This is known as Idiopathic Toe-Walking. Toe-walking is common as children first learn to walk and even in children 2-3 years of age. If your child has been walking for 6 months or is over 2…
