Physical Therapy

Gross Motor Development

• Gross motor development refers to the ability to use large muscle groups to perform movements like crawling, walking, running, jumping, and climbing. These skills are essential for everyday activities, play, and overall physical health.

• Strong gross motor skills help children explore their environment, participate in physical activities, and build confidence in their abilities. Delays or difficulties with gross motor development can impact balance, coordination, strength, and a child’s ability to keep up with peers during play and school activities.

• Gross motor skills are foundational for a child’s ability to engage in active play, sports, and daily tasks. They also contribute to overall physical health, endurance, and participation in school and social activities.

• Physical therapists (PTs) assess and treat gross motor delays by creating individualized plans to target your child’s specific needs. PTs use fun and engaging activities to help strengthen muscles, improve coordination, enhance balance, and increase endurance. Whether it’s helping a toddler take their first steps or teaching a school-aged child how to jump, physical therapy builds skills in a positive and supportive way.

Balance and Coordination

• Balance is the ability to maintain control of the body during movement or while stationary. Coordination involves using different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently. Both are essential for everyday tasks, physical activities, and overall motor development.

• Strong balance and coordination skills help children perform movements like running, jumping, climbing, and riding a bike. These skills are also critical for maintaining posture, navigating uneven surfaces, and participating in sports and play. Challenges with balance and coordination can make everyday activities more difficult and may affect confidence during physical play.

• Balance and coordination are key components of gross motor development and help children safely explore their environment. These skills contribute to independence, participation in physical activities, and overall physical confidence.

• Physical therapists (PTs) work with children to improve balance and coordination through targeted, fun activities that build strength, stability, and body awareness. Using tools like balance beams, obstacle courses, and therapy balls, PTs help children gain the confidence and ability to move safely and effectively. Therapy plans are customized to your child’s specific challenges and goals.

Strength and Endurance

• Strength is the ability of muscles to exert force, while endurance is the ability to sustain physical activity over time without tiring. Both are essential for children to complete daily tasks, participate in play, and build a foundation for lifelong physical health.

• Strong muscles and good endurance help children with everyday activities like sitting upright, walking, running, climbing stairs, and carrying objects. These skills also allow children to play longer, participate in sports, and keep up with their peers. Weakness or low endurance can impact posture, energy levels, and a child’s ability to engage in physical and social activities.

• Physical therapists (PTs) develop personalized plans to build your child’s strength and endurance through fun, age-appropriate activities. Exercises like climbing, jumping, lifting, or engaging in active play help strengthen muscles and improve stamina. PTs also teach strategies to improve posture, conserve energy, and safely increase activity levels over time.

Gait Training

• Gait training focuses on helping children develop or improve their ability to walk. It involves addressing walking patterns, balance, posture, and coordination to ensure safe, efficient, and confident movement.

• Walking is a fundamental skill that allows children to explore their environment, participate in activities, and build independence. Challenges with gait can affect how a child moves, their ability to keep up with peers, and their overall confidence during physical activities.

• An effective walking pattern supports a child’s ability to participate in physical activities, safely explore their surroundings, and build endurance. A strong gait also prevents long-term issues, such as joint pain or muscle imbalances, as children grow.

• Physical therapists (PTs) specialize in assessing and improving gait patterns. Through gait training, PTs work on strengthening muscles, improving balance, and correcting posture. Therapy might involve exercises, stretches, or the use of tools like parallel bars, walkers, or orthotics to enhance walking skills. PTs also teach strategies to help children navigate different surfaces, stairs, and obstacles.

Range of Motion and Flexibility

• Range of motion refers to how far a joint can move in different directions, while flexibility is the ability of muscles and soft tissues to stretch and allow smooth, unrestricted movement. Both are important for functional mobility and injury prevention in children.

• Good range of motion and flexibility help children perform everyday activities, such as bending, reaching, sitting, and walking. Limited motion or tight muscles can lead to discomfort, difficulty with movement, and challenges with physical activities or play.

• Healthy range of motion and flexibility are essential for a child’s ability to move freely and participate in both structured and unstructured activities. These skills support balance, coordination, and overall mobility, helping children build independence and confidence.

• Physical therapists (PTs) work to improve range of motion and flexibility through targeted stretching, strengthening, and mobility exercises. Therapy sessions may include activities to gently stretch tight muscles, increase joint mobility, and improve posture and alignment. PTs also use fun and engaging strategies to help children feel comfortable and confident as they gain greater ease of movement.

Torticollis

• Torticollis is a condition where a child’s neck muscles become tight or imbalanced, causing the head to tilt to one side or rotate to the other. It can occur in infants and children, often due to positioning in the womb, birth trauma, or prolonged time spent in one position during early development.

• Torticollis can make it difficult for your child to move their head freely, leading to challenges with activities like looking around, feeding, or playing. Over time, it can also contribute to flat spots on the head (positional plagiocephaly) and delays in motor development due to limited head and neck movement.

• Untreated torticollis can affect your child’s ability to achieve developmental milestones, like rolling, sitting, or crawling. It can also contribute to posture issues as they grow. Early treatment helps ensure your child can explore their surroundings and move freely.

• Physical therapists (PTs) specialize in treating torticollis by creating a customized plan to gently stretch and strengthen the neck muscles. Therapy may involve positioning techniques, exercises to encourage symmetrical head movement, and strategies to reduce muscle tightness. PTs also guide parents on how to use tummy time, purposeful play, and daily routines to support their child’s progress.