DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY AND PAEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY
How paediatric physiotherapy can help your child
Paediatric physiotherapy aims to enable your baby/toddler to reach their full potential through developmental play, therapeutic exercise and functional training activities. An initial assessment will be carried out which will then guide treatment techniques used. There are often specific muscle groups that have not developed sufficient strength yet. Most common muscle groups affected include the gluteal, quadriceps, shoulder girdle and core muscles. It is usually weakness of these muscles that delays the time it takes for babies to start rolling/sitting/crawling/walking. Through various treatment techniques these muscles can be strengthened along with specific exercises demonstrated to parents which they can continue doing at home in between treatment sessions in order to maximise developmental progression.
Paediatric physiotherapy aims to enable your baby/toddler to reach their full potential through developmental play, therapeutic exercise and functional training activities. An initial assessment will be carried out which will then guide treatment techniques used. There are often specific muscle groups that have not developed sufficient strength yet. Most common muscle groups affected include the gluteal, quadriceps, shoulder girdle and core muscles. It is usually weakness of these muscles that delays the time it takes for babies to start rolling/sitting/crawling/walking. Through various treatment techniques these muscles can be strengthened along with specific exercises demonstrated to parents which they can continue doing at home in between treatment sessions in order to maximise developmental progression.
What is Developmental Delay?
A child may be given a diagnosis of developmental delay if they achieve certain developmental skills later than the predicted age. These skills are called ‘developmental milestones’. Milestones are the definite landmarks in the growth and development of a child. Developmental delay may affect a child’s fine and gross motor skills, speech and language and/or personal and social skills. A child diagnosed with global delay will have delays in all areas of their development.
Often parents have concerns about their children’s development when they see other children of a similar age reaching milestones before their child. It is important to remember that for each milestone, there is a range of ages during which a child will normally reach it. For example, some babies may walk as early as 10 months while others may not walk until 16 months, both are within normal limits. Encouraging certain activities such as ‘tummy time’ can influence when a child achieves certain skills such as rolling, sitting, walking and facilitates visual development.
Supervised tummy time during waking hours is important to the motor development of your baby as it allows him/her to gain head and body control. Motor control develops in a ‘cephalocaudal’ fashion, which means a baby first gains control of their head, then their shoulders followed by their abdomen and so on down to their feet. Developing head control first allows your baby to visually explore everything around them.
Having tummy time also helps the development of your baby’s skull. With babies spending more time on their backs, paediatricians have noted an increase in flatheads or misshapen heads. Babies’ skulls are still quite soft and constantly lying on their backs without changing the head position can cause a flattened effect on the back of a baby’s head known as ‘plagiocephaly’. This is commonly seen in babies with torticollis or ‘wry neck’.
As well as gross motor skills, tummy time encourages your baby’s fine motor skills. For example it encourages grasping.
You can start tummy time from birth – with your newborn lying skin to skin on your chest. From there, small amounts of tummy time throughout the day are sufficient – even if only for a minute or two at a time – and gradually increase the time, as long as your baby is comfortable.
To encourage ‘tummy time’, place your baby on a firm, flat surface on his tummy with his arms forward – a rug on the floor or an exercise mat is best, as a soft surface makes it too hard for baby to move. To begin with, even on a firm surface, moving on their tummy is hard work for babies and they will tire quickly. The answer is short but frequent periods of play, allowing your baby to gradually build up his/her strength and learn to move more efficiently.
One tip is to roll your baby over on her tummy for a little while after every nappy change. It’s easy to remember to do this and your baby is likely to enjoy the view if she’s up on a changing table. But do hold on securely so he/she doesn’t roll or push off.
It is best to try tummy time when your baby is calm and respect their responses so that they don’t associate this new experience with feeling stressed. Make sure your baby isn’t hungry or tired or, on the other hand, don’t place him/her on a full tummy as this could be uncomfortable.
Using a mirror will encourage your baby to stay on their tummy for longer and is fantastic for their development. It’s amazing how they love to look at themselves and of course their Mum and Dad!!
If your baby cries when you put him on his tummy, help him/her become more confident by playing some of these baby games:
While you are lying on your back or reclining, lie your baby on your tummy so that he/she will be encouraged to lift up and look at your face. Try gently rocking him from side to side as you hold him/her.
Lie down on the floor facing your baby and talk or sing to him/her.
Hold a rattle or a squeaky toy, wave a colourful silky scarf or a place a mirror in front of baby, for him/her to look at.
Lie your baby on different textures: such as woollen, fleece, velvet or fluffy fabrics.
Place a favourite toy within baby’s reach.
Lie your baby across a gym or exercise ball, or a rolled up sleeping-bag, and rock him/her gently to and fro and sideways: this will also stimulate his/her vestibular (balance) system and help him/her get used to being in different positions.
If your baby can’t support their weight on his/her forearms, support them on a rolled-up towel placed beneath their upper chest, with their arms forward so they can practise mini push-ups or play with a toy. When your baby can get up on their forearms independently usually around 4 months, remove the pillow and let him/her work on motor skills without it.
Children with developmental delay may present with some of the following difficulties:
Unable to bring his/her hands together by 4 months.
Appears very floppy or has low muscle tone.
Muscles appear very tight, legs held stiff with little or no movement.
Having head lag when pulled to a sitting position after 6 months.
Unable to roll over by 6 months or only rolling to one side.
Unable to sit on the floor without support by 8 months.
Unable to crawl by 12 months.
Unable to walk independently by 18 months.
It is important to remember that all babies develop at their own pace and some can just be late bloomers!!. If your baby presents with any of the above difficulties or if you have any concerns about your babies development it is best to contact your G.P., public health nurse or paediatric physiotherapist for a developmental check.
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