| Parents of a child with Down syndrome have | | | | stomach out and back arched, in a more |
| their hands full just trying to get used to | | | | pronounced, difficult, and precarious way. |
| their child's condition. What could get them | | | | |
| more dubious is when someone suggests that | | | | While it is true that your child is going to |
| their child should have a physical therapist. | | | | learn how to walk eventually and that what is |
| Why physical therapy? Won't he learn to walk | | | | only takes is for you wait more patiently, it |
| and run, just like other children do? | | | | would still be more worthwhile if you avoid |
| | | | making that wait wasted. Physical therapy |
| Down syndrome and physical therapy may be an | | | | during this development stage is so powerful |
| odd pair yet the parent should realize the | | | | in preventing impending orthopedic problems |
| inherent benefits that physical therapy could | | | | in your child once he reaches his adolescence |
| offer. First of all, the arrangement of Down | | | | and adulthood. Otherwise his physical |
| syndrome and physical therapy offers the | | | | functioning will have the tendency to be |
| child one of the most important services he | | | | impaired later in life. Physical therapy can |
| will receive in the early intervention | | | | help a child with a Down syndrome by |
| period. It is during this early phase that | | | | proactively teaching him some optimal |
| the Down syndrome and physical therapy match | | | | movement patterns to developed strength in |
| will have the greatest chemistry to improve | | | | particular muscles. |
| the child's condition in the future. | | | | |
| | | | And aside from eliminating the compensatory |
| Although the limitation of having a child | | | | movement patterns that the child with a Down |
| with a Down syndrome and physical therapy as | | | | syndrome is prone to, physical therapy can |
| his early treatment is apparently that it | | | | also help the child in attaining a mastery of |
| does not accelerate the rate at which the | | | | his total motor development. His total motor |
| child achieves his total motor skill, | | | | development - rolling over, sitting, crawling |
| physical therapy still helps the child in | | | | and walking are the first challenges he will |
| avoiding his development of abnormal | | | | meet in life. Hence this will also be his |
| compensatory movement patterns. A child | | | | first area of strength. Once the both of you |
| having a Down syndrome and physical therapy | | | | has learned how to walk, your team will |
| deficit are nearly certain that they will | | | | advance to refining the pattern, ultimately |
| develop the following compensatory movement | | | | allowing you to access community recreation |
| patterns: standing and walking with hips in | | | | programs like 'gymboree', dance, gymnastics, |
| external rotation, knees stiff, feet flat and | | | | or any other program that you both would |
| turned out, sitting with trunk rounded and | | | | enjoy in. |
| pelvis tilted back, and standing with a | | | | |