Children on the autism spectrum often have physical challenges, such as underdeveloped muscle tone and gross and fine motor skills and coordination. However, some parents may not understand the benefits of Physical therapy Palm Desert for these children. However, physical therapists can receive specific training to help children with these difficulties. These are ways physical therapy can help.
Improving Balance and Gross Motor Skills
Children with autism often experience balance issues. Balance is an important skill that requires strong muscles and bones as well as brain function. Children learn to move smoothly and coordinate their movements so they can perform basic and advanced activities, from standing from a sitting position to climbing stairs. Physical therapy activities teach the brain and body how to move and maintain balance.
Children use their gross motor skills to explore. They gather knowledge from their environments when they move around and inspect the world. Their lower muscle tone can impact how they move, stand, sit, run, roll, bike, climb and perform other activities. These skills also give them independence as they grow and mature. These skills include babies learning to lift their heads as they develop their neck muscles. Children will sit, crawl and walk as they develop their trunks and leg muscles. Physical therapy activities help them build gross motor skills.
Physical therapies, such as play and dance therapies, build these muscles, improving their balance and functional gross motor skills. This allows children to gain independence and complete everyday physical tasks, such as rocking in a rocking chair.
Posture and Movement Training
Physical therapy Vista can help with posture as well. Children on the spectrum often have difficulty standing or sitting up straight. Part of this is a result of their muscle tone. However, poor posture impacts stability. This prevents these children from walking and standing properly. Gaining proper posture can take years without physical therapy.
In addition, these children often balance and walk on their toes, making them unstable. The muscles, tendons and ligaments in their ankles and feet need lengthening and stretching regularly so the kids feel comfortable on their whole foot rather than their toes. Physical therapy can help them lengthen and stretch these areas, preventing discomfort as they flatten their feet on the ground. As they learn to stand and walk properly, they also increase their balance and movement.
Supporting Mood and Behavior
Exercise releases endorphins. These feel-good chemicals impact mood significantly, making children feel good and giving them a positive outlook. In addition, their health improves as they continue their therapies, so they are not only stronger, but they also feel better physically. Play and dance therapies are also fun. Children get to jump and move around in ways their regular lives may not prevent, especially at school or in more structured situations.
All these activities boost these kids’ moods. When they feel better, they are more open to communicating and interacting with others, including other children. Their activities also make them more tired, improving overall behavior because they can get their energy out regularly.
Physical therapy Murrieta helps both children on the spectrum and their parents. They learn to understand autism and how they can help their children. These parents should learn more about how physical therapy can impact their lives and the lives of their children.
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