ΕΝΔΥΝΑΜΩΣΗ ΣΤΑΣΗΣ ΣΩΜΑΤΟΣ

                                                       

PROXIMAL POSTURAL CONTROL

 

 

 

 

The aim of these activities is to improve postural control.  This will provide a stable base of support that is needed to facilitate balance and hand function. The following activities are recommended to facilitate improvements in flexion/extension of the body against gravity and pelvic/shoulder control.

 

Aeroplane position

Upright kneeling

 

Pretending to be “superman or superwoman”!

10. Lift upper body/arms and legs off the ground whilst lying on stomach.
10. Work towards keeping legs straight and thighs slightly off the floor
10. Work towards keeping arms straight and palms facing forwards.
10. Chest is slightly off the floor but avoid bottoms being in the air
10. If it is difficult for to sustain both arms and legs, try doing each arm/leg separately
10. Doing activities lying on the stomach and propping on arms also helps develop this skill (e.g. while reading, drawing or watching TV).    

                    

10. On both knees (do not sit back on bottom) play ball games between partners or in a circle group.  Like catch, throw into bucket/box in middle (ball or beanbag).  Kneel at table to do some tabletop activities.
10. Statues game; with partner using straight arms, palm to palm, push each other to see who falls over first.
10. Get up/down from floor via a ½ kneel without using hands or knees.

                         

 

Bench work

 

 

 

4 point kneeling

10. Pull yourself along a bench on stomach using arms only.  At end of bench, place both hands on ground initially then using one hand, roll or throw object into box or at a target etc.
10. Push along a bench on back using feet only by bending and straightening legs.
10. Bunny hop over a bench, holding on with both hands.

                             

 

10. Weight bearing through all limbs in a crawling position.
10. Lift up right arm up and hold this position for a count of 5 and work up to 10.
10. Do the same with other arm.
10. Repeat this with lifting one leg and counting and then the other leg.
10. When strong enough encourage lifting alternate leg and arming together.
10. Play games in this position e.g. reaching out to place or throw beanbags into a bucket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curling into a ball

Other activities

 

 

10. Cross arms across chest, then bend knees up to chest (ideally, you should not use hands to hold knees up) and then lift head and curl up.  Hold this position and time it.

10. Swings
10. Trampolining
10. Climbing on frames, nets, rope ladders and wall bars
10. Kicking a football at targets i.e. Skittles, between goal posts
10. Swimming
10. Stilts and pogo sticks
10. Gymnastics
10. Skipping games
10. Basketball, volleyball, rounders and cricket games
11. Carry a tray with objects on it
10. Space hoppers
10. Tug of war
10. Wheel barrow walks – supporting under the hips

 

 

Bridging

 

 

10. Lifting bottom up from floor whilst lying on back with hands placed at sides or at 45° or above head.
10. You can then roll a ball under and count how many times it goes back and forth.
10. Crab walk around the room; kick a ball if you can.

          

 

 

Pushing feet to feet

 

 

 

10. With a sibling or friend place feet to feet and push (also back to back link arms, sit to stand).

                      

 

 

Heel – toe walking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Walk along a line, placing foot in front with heel of foot touching the tip of the foot behind (like dolly steps).  This could be done as part of a group game/obstacle course.
10. Foot should be straight not turned out.

 

 

 

Jumping games

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Jump, feet together, into hoops/islands of paper
10. Jump forwards, sideways, and backwards; holding a ball in hands, in/out of hoops or on/off mats.
10. Jump and clap sequence or jump and hop sequence, or any other sequences of movement you can think of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                       

LOW MUSCLE TONE

 

Ref: Occupational Therapy Australia (WA)

 

The degree of tension or resistance in a muscle.  In low muscle tone this is regarded as flaccid or floppy.

 

Helpful strategies

10. Wrestling - In pairs, children or child and parent join hands and push against each other.
10. Push Ups: in the handstand position with adult holding child's ankles, child bends elbows slowly until nose touches floor and then straightens elbows again. Repeat normal push-ups, knees bent. Push offs - from wall and catch on bent arms.
10. Carrying - heavy items eg. Shopping bags.
10. When Watching TV - Encourage child to lie on tummy on floor, with forearms flat on floor (rather than supporting chin) for as long as they can.
10. Swimming - Including using a kickboard, or floaties, dog paddle, treading water etc.

 
 

 

 

 

10. Activities that develop strength and endurance will assist children with low muscle tone.  Large movements and gross motor skill practise also assist the development of strength with fine motor activities.
10. Fine motor activities (e.g. drawing) can be adjusted to assist development of muscle tone e.g. drawing up high on a blackboard encourages an anti-gravity position.
10. Acknowledge when the child tires but aim to gradually and continuously increase strength and endurance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross motor activities

 

10. Relay Races: bunny hops, bear / crab / parrot walks, jumping with a balloon/ball squeezed between knees, space hopper
10. Wheelbarrows - Hold at knees until strong enough to hold at ankles.  Aim to increase the number of steps/distance.
10. Tug-o-War
10. Walk - with a piece of elastic around ankles.  Children have to keep elastic tight (ie. feet wide apart when walking) and try not to allow the elastic to fall off.
10. Monkey Bars, Arm Wrestles
10. Sit Ups - with knees bent.
10. Leapfrog

Fine motor activities

 

 

 

10. Newspaper Crush - Squeeze sheets of newspaper into balls as tightly a possible.  Child can then throw ball into target (eg. bucket).
10. Wringing - Wring as much water as possible out of a sponge or cloth when in the bath.
10. Spray Bottle - Use a squeezy water spray bottle.  Child can water plants or "paint" on concrete/rocks.
10. Popping Air Bubble Packaging - Using thumb and index finger.
10. Flicking - Paper balls or marbles into a target, using thumb and index finger.