Creating Pathways to Success: The Impact of Physical Therapy on Children with Special Needs
Physical therapy plays a vital role in enhancing the standard of living for kids with unique requirements. It focuses on enhancing their physical abilities, mobility, and overall well-being. By implementing strategies tailored to the needs of each child, therapists can create a positive and effective therapeutic environment.
The Power of Play: Incorporating Play-Based Interventions in Pediatric Physical Therapy
Physical therapy plays a crucial role in promoting the development and well-being of children. For parents seeking the best interventions for their children's therapy, play-based interventions have gained significant recognition in recent years. By understanding the benefits of play-based interventions, parents can actively participate in their child's therapeutic journey, fostering motor skills, engagement, and overall progress.
Supporting Progress: How Physical Therapy Enhances Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome
Physical therapy serves as a cornerstone in the comprehensive care of children with Down syndrome. By focusing on their individual needs, physical therapists help children improve their motor skills, enhance muscle tone, and develop better coordination. Additionally, physical therapy promotes overall physical fitness, which contributes to better cardiovascular health and helps prevent obesity.
More Games to Boost Executive Function Skills
Executive function skills refer to a set of cognitive processes that help us manage our thoughts and actions effectively. These skills are essential for success in school, work, and life in general. Fortunately, there are many fun and engaging games that can help develop executive function skills
Great Physical Therapy Toys
Toys can be an effective tool in pediatric physical therapy as they can motivate and engage children in therapeutic activities. We use toys frequently as they make physical therapy more engaging and fun. Toys can help children stay motivated and make their therapy sessions more enjoyable.
Working with Teachers as an In-School Therapist
Communication and collaboration may seem complicated, as therapists and teachers may be busy and overwhelmed. Communication and collaboration can become even more complicated when a therapist treats in multiple schools. However, working with teachers inside and outside the classroom should be considered part of a child's treatment and a crucial one at that.
Snowman Craft
What better way to prep for the holidays than by sitting down and doing a craft together as a family? This craft is not only adorable, it also targets some key fine motor skills! Enjoy this fun winter or Christmas craft with your family this weekend.
Fun Christmas Activities for Your Kids
Christmas time is coming up fast, and keeping the kids busy can be exhausting for many parents. The ideas listed below are very easy things to do to keep your kids busy and occupied while having fun; all the while, we parents can get what needs to be done, done. Of course, feel free to join your child in these activities. They will love it, or set them up and let them go!
Sensory Processing Around the Holidays
Christmas is a time of joy, family, friends, presents, beautiful lights, decorations, crafts, holiday gatherings, and more! However, this season can be challenging if your child struggles with sensory processing. Taking time to prepare for an accommodate these sensory issues can make the holidays for enjoyable for both you and your child. Keep reading to discover how to help your child have the best Christmas!
Christmas Gift Guide
Christmas is around the corner and gift buying for your little ones can be tricky.Instead of asking yourself “What do I get my kid” this year, let me help you! I put together a list of my favorite toys as a speech language pathologist that can promote language with your help of course. On the list I put together, you will notice a theme of hardly any electronic toys! This is important. Children need social interactions with others and not with their toys to build their language skills. Being present and playing with these toys with your child is super important.
Hippotherapy as part of Physical Therapy Treatment
Hippotherapy is the use of equine movement as part of physical, occupational, or speech therapy. It is a strategy or tool to incorporate within traditional PT, OT, or Speech treatment; it is not a standalone treatment. It is beneficial to both pediatric and adult patients. Hippotherapy involves cooperation from the therapist, horse handlers, and even volunteers. It is even possible to cotreat during hippotherapy. Regardless of how hippotherapy is conducted, it will not be just the therapist and child; it will be an operation calling for teamwork.
What is Hippotherapy?
Believe it or not, hippotherapy has nothing to do with hippos! It is actually a strategy used by occupational, physical, and speech therapists where treatment involves the aid of horseback riding. It is a strategy or tool to incorporate within traditional PT, OT, or speech treatment and is not considered a type of therapy in itself. It is beneficial for both children and adults, and can be used in cases of Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, developmental delays, and more.
Obstacle Crossing as an Indicator of Dynamic Balance in Children with CP
Obstacle crossing is a part of daily life. A child may be walking and has to step over a stick or manipulate around objects, like desks or toys. This requires dynamic balance. Obstacle crossing requires trunk control and stability in the lower limbs to maintain a center of mass.
Balance as a Part of Child Development
Did you know that balance is integral to your child’s development? It is the foundation for all motor skills. Balance is the ability to maintain a body position. It allows your child to sit at a table, lets them participate in sports and activities, and helps prevent injury. It is considered a foundational motor skill because all motor skills require some aspect of balance. It is a building block that allows other motor skills to develop.
Walker Type Recommendations for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a common motor disability encountered in pediatric physical therapy. Depending on the GMFCS Level, a child may benefit from a walker to help ease the strain of walking, increase stability and posture, and reduce energy costs.
Different Types of Walkers and Why We Use Them
The purpose of a walker is to provide support and balance and serve as a weight-bearing mechanism. Walkers are often recommended in pediatric physical therapy as a mobility aid for short-term or long-term use, depending on what a child is dealing with.
Sensory Play and Sensory Bins
We’ve talked a bit about sensory regulation, how it works, and why it is essential. So, how can you expose your child to different sensory experiences and stimuli? Through sensory play! Sensory bins are a great activity for your child to participate in sensory play.
Sensory Regulation Explained
What is sensory regulation? It might be a term that you hear your child’s therapist use often. In simple terms, sensory regulation is how our body processes and regulates all the different sensory stimuli it encounters. Our body is constantly taking in different sensations both outside and inside our body, and our body needs to regulate how it reacts to those other sensations.
Flat Foot and Orthotics Treatment
Flat foot is a common condition treated by physical therapists in the pediatric field.
There are two types of flat feet: rigid and flexible flatfoot. A flexible flat foot appears when a child stands; otherwise, the arch is intact. Rigid flatfoot is a much more serious condition with no arches in the foot, regardless of whether the child is sitting or standing.
What You Need to Know About Orthotics for Your Child
In some instances, your child’s physical therapist may recommend orthotics for your child. If that’s the case, you may be curious about what exactly goes into providing your child with the proper orthosis.