Early intervention physical therapy exercises and motions refer to those tasks and movements that are deemed appropriate for young children who have developmental disabilities or are at high risk of developing such complications. Intensive early intervention physical therapy aims at increasing the child’s muscle tone, balance, and coordination and practicing activities such as sitting, standing, and walking.
There is only one key message that one can derive from all of this and that is; that children with functional needs or disabilities should undergo some form of physical therapy as early as possible in their lives. The ages 0-3 years and 3-6 years are considered essential development periods that cover the development of the brain and body parts.
Benefits of Early Intervention Physical Therapy Exercises:
- If facilitated and encouraged from childhood, early intervention physical therapy exercises can assist in the development of a child’s gross motor functions.
- This helps address functional milestones of a specific age.
- Early intervention also resolves possible challenges and related problems that may occur if the child has physical delays or abnormalities.
- Early development of strengthening, flexibility, and balance through guided play and functional activities helps the child develop the necessary motor abilities.
- This assists the child in moving around the environment and benefits their daily life.
- Activities in early intervention physical therapy provide constructive groundwork for recreation, school, and community participation later on.
- It is better to diagnose developmental abnormalities in children as early as possible so that they can receive treatment and the support they need.
Top Early Intervention Physical Therapy Exercises:
Developmental physical therapy in toddlers has a significant impact on the outcome of the child’s development. Having incorporated exercises and activities in the growth of the child, physical therapists aid in strengthening toddlers and improving balance, coordination, and other skills.
Here are 10 of the most common and beneficial early intervention physical therapy exercises for toddlers:
1. Assisted Standing
In terms of gross motor development, assisted standing helps children with little balance and coordination to develop muscles in their legs to enable them to stand on their own. The therapist is positioned in front of the toddler with the toddler hand in hand to maintain balance.
They slowly reduce the amount of weight they support by adjusting it to how much weight the child can bear. The exercise being taught focuses on body positioning and the distribution of body weight.
2. Cruising
Cruising enhances stability and agility because a toddler is learning to move around while walking with their hands on furniture. The child stands on different heights of obstacles and surfaces. The physical therapist puts various barriers for the child to climb. The child must coordinate to bear weight, maintain balance, and move.
3. Squatting
Squatting is beneficial in that it helps in building lower body muscles, increases balance, and assists in the development of motor planning among children. Sitting across from the toddler, the therapist takes the toddler’s hands. Furtherly, it also lifts them towards the ceiling which prompts the toddler into the squatting position. Ten to fifteen reps strengthen the leg muscles.
4. Rolling
Flipping from tummy to back, and back to tummy is also beneficial to the abdominal and back muscles as well as the arms. For example, the therapist first assists the child in developing the rollover movements and progressively withdraws the assistance as the child improves on the moves. Rolling is a critical activity that helps the child cross the midline of her or his body and enhance coordination.
5. Crawling
Crawling through tunnels and walking on the balance beams and under the platforms develops upper arm and leg muscles and improves coordination. The changes in the surface keep the toddler interested as skills associated with spatial orientation develop. In its initial stages, the therapist gives hand-over-hand help, not allowing the child to get out of reach.
6. Stepping
Performing the stepping motion on a small staircase of several steps or the bottom step of a playground slide promotes walking coordination. The therapist is usually positioned at the side or behind the toddler during the sessions. Where they supports the trunk or hips of the toddler while the child practices standing and lifting the feet.
7. Dancing
Playing musical movements improves body orientation, stability, coordination, and receptive and expressive language. The therapist plays cheerful songs that have a distinctive rhythm. It also encourages the toddler to dance in any way he wants, the therapist being a helping hand.
8. Ball Exercises
Playing with small and light balls involves rolling, throwing, catching, and bouncing. It has a positive quality on the grip strength and hand-eye coordination of a child as well as facilitating the sensory processing of the objects. It’s the physical therapist’s role to start the various ball activities to assess if the toddler requires some help to engage with the ball.
9. Swinging
The rhythmic and controlled movements enhance vestibular and proprioceptive functioning, the latter of which is essential for motor coordination. The therapist takes a swing, glider, or hammock designed for a pediatric and assists the toddler in swinging back. Forth, while ensuring the movements coordinate with the appropriate brain and body signals.
10. Animal Walks
Crawling like a crab, walking like a duck, or marching like an elephant not only captures the interest of a toddler but also fosters coordination abilities. The physical therapist models the motions, and the therapist assists and guides the toddler throughout the silly walks. Frequent repetition increases abilities.
Final Words
Starting with physical therapy right after the injury has some benefits because the young brain is very plastic, thus, it is easy to re-map it and create new connections and pathways. All these top 10 early intervention exercises also lay the framework for learning other more complicated movements that are needed when in preschool, school, and so on.
When modifying a task into a game to facilitate its implementation in therapy, they focus on the areas where the toddler may have developmental issues thereby providing function and independence.
