Physiotherapy (PT) helps in the development, rehabilitation, and improvement of movement skills and performance. Physiotherapist works on gross motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking, as well as improving flexibility, strength, and endurance.
Right from the birth a journey of developmental milestones begins. Each baby is different, not all babies develop at the same time. Parents can also help their babies to achieve certain motor developmental milestones by incorporating exercises planned by physiotherapist under the guidance of your child’s paediatrician.
The order of normal motor development is:
0-3 months
Lift and holds head while on the stomach
Moves legs and arms easily.
Put hands in mouth
4-6 months
Starts rolling from back to stomach and stomach to back
Begins to reach toys
Sit with support
7-12 months
Sit down without support
Crawl
Stand with support
Changes position from one to another
Walk with support
You should seek help if:
Your baby’s muscles feel ‘floppy’ or ‘stiff’
Your baby isn’t tolerating ‘tummy time’ till 4 months of age
Your baby moves one side more or tilt head to one side
Your baby has delay in developmental milestones
Not sitting by 9 months
Not trying to stand up by 12 months
Not walking by 18 months
Your child has an unusual walk or foot posture
Your child has undergone an injury or after surgery
Your child has poor posture.
Physiotherapy intervention:
Exercise ball training for crawling development and strength support
Gentle massaging like muscle kneading
Stretching exercises
Head control exercises
Hot and cold compression on affected joints and muscles
Balance exercises
Postural re-education
If your baby is experiencing any of the above, it may be either due to delayed development o could be due to some other defect. It is best advised that you consult a doctor and post recommendations include physio in your baby’s life. Normal activations to increase the baby’s mobility always give promising results. To highlight the growth and the progress of your baby, it is advised that you keep a baby book and document all the positive steps and results.