Benefits of Therapy for Children With Delayed Gross Motor Development

Have you noticed your nearly one-year-old is still struggling to sit without support? Does it seem like your school-aged child is floppy in their trunk and limbs? Your child may have delays in their gross motor development and need help from pediatric therapists. 

At Skills on the Hill in Washington, DC and Arlington, VA, our pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapists work together to provide comprehensive care for your child to ensure they are functioning at their highest potential! 

Several variables contribute to a child’s development; some children reach gross motor milestones later than others. Often, there is no known cause for the delays and no long-term issues, but in other cases, guidance from a highly qualified pediatric therapist is recommended. 

Our pediatric specialists are here to help parents and caregivers identify any delays in development and provide a comprehensive program to help children with delays develop, restore, and improve their mobility and overall function.

Request an appointment today to learn more about how we can help your child reach their highest potential! 

What are gross motor development delays?

Delays in the development of the larger muscle groups that control whole-body movements are known as gross motor development delays. These larger muscle groups manage our ability to make big movements with our arms, legs, and torso.

All children need these gross motor skills to hold their heads up, roll over, sit unsupported, and crawl during infancy. As children grow, these larger muscle groups are needed for walking, running, and skipping. In addition, gross motor development will also enable activities like climbing, jumping jacks, riding bikes, and jumping on trampolines. 

Playing on a playground and in the neighborhood with friends requires these gross motor skills. Our gross motor skills are also related to other essential tasks for participation in normal daily tasks, recreational pursuits, and sports. These include the following:

• Balance and coordination
• Body awareness
• Physical strength and stability
• Reaction time and agility
• Self-esteem and self-confidence 

Any delay in our gross motor development will also interfere with the foundational stability our children need for performing fine motor movements like buttoning clothes, using crayons or pencils, and holding utensils to feed themselves. 

Fortunately, there are a lot of parents who can do to help. Our pediatric specialists at Skills on the Hill in Washington, DC and Arlington, VA work with children of all ages and abilities. Our therapists will collaborate with parents, teachers, physicians, and any other healthcare team member to ensure your child gets the best possible care!

What are some of the common causes of developmental delays?

It is important to remember that some children reach gross motor milestones later than others, and there is no known cause or long-term issue. In other cases, a gross motor delay is due to a specific medical problem, and getting help is essential for your child’s health and functional capabilities.  

Our highly trained therapists can help parents identify any developmental delay and give guidance about the best course of action they can take. There are some common causes for delays that a trained medical practitioner, including the following situations, should assess:

• Premature birth resulting in slowly developing muscles 
• Genetic causes (i.e., Down syndrome)
• Muscle and nerve disorders (i.e., muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy)
• Developmental disabilities (i.e., Autism Spectrum Disorder) 
• Hormonal causes such as hypothyroidism

If you are a parent and notice your child seems more clumsy than their peers or struggles to move in any way, our Skills on the Hill therapists are here to help! 

What to expect at your therapy sessions

Our Skills on the Hill pediatric therapists work with infants and children to help them reach their maximum potential to function independently and to promote active participation in home, school, and community environments.

At the initial visit with your Washington, DC or Arlington, VA pediatric therapist, your child will have a comprehensive evaluation. You’ll be asked about your child’s developmental milestones, such as sitting up, crawling, and walking, and the age at which they were achieved. In addition, your child’s therapist will be interested in learning about your worries or why you brought your child to Skills on the Hill.

After a thorough history, our pediatric therapists will conduct a physical assessment to observe any developmental difficulties or delays firsthand. Your child’s therapist may also monitor them engaging in toy play, standing, sitting, moving, and transitioning between activities. 

This information will help to identify the areas where therapy will be most beneficial. Based on the results of this assessment, we will tailor your child’s physical therapy treatment plan to their unique needs. 

Most sessions will consist of work on mobility, strength, coordination, and balance. Other treatments address specific issues, like rolling, crawling, and walking or running are often part of therapy sessions. Other treatments may focus on tasks such as getting dressed, playing, and activities common for daily functioning and school participation. 

Throughout the session, our team of therapists will support and encourage your child. Our physical and occupational therapists routinely collaborate to maximize the therapeutic interventions and your child’s outcomes. We also provide speech therapy services and ensure your child receives the best care possible! 

Request an appointment at Skills on the Hill today! 

Our highly skilled pediatric therapists work with kids with developmental disabilities to help them develop, restore, and improve mobility. Pediatric therapy at Skills on the Hill in Washington, DC and Arlington, VA can help improve a child’s quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement. 

Call today to request an appointment with one of our specialists!

Sources:

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/154905/jpc14684.pdf?sequence=2

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.877345/full

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.598276/full