4 Physical Therapy for Child With Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome (DS) is a disorder in which a baby is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. This extra chromosome changes the development of the body and the brain, causing physical and mental challenges. Parents whose children are born with DS should understand the connection between Down Syndrome and Physical Therapy.

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy focuses on improving children’s gross motor skills such as sitting, walking, running, and jumping. These skills are necessary for children to function at home, school, and also community.  However, for children with Down Syndrome the goal of Physical Therapy is not to accelerate the development of gross motor skills. The goal is to help the children to develop optimal movement patterns.

During a Physical Therapy session, a Physical Therapist will first assess what skills the child already have. It’s necessary to determine what skill set the child should learn next. This allows the child to learn things one step at a time.

Next, the Physical Therapist will develop a method for the child to learn the next skill set. This method will be based on the child’s personal traits. Regardless of the variations in methods, a Physical Therapist will work on developing good posture, gait, and foot alignment.

To complement the Physical Therapy, children with DS should also get occupational therapy plus speech and language therapy. These three types of therapies work in tandem to build strong skill base that will be used in real life situations.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy focuses on developing the skills needed for independent life. An occupational therapist will work on the fine motor skills such as grasping, releasing, reaching, and playing with toys. As children learn these skills, they will improve their fingers, hands, and arms strength.

Further down the road the therapists will teach children on how to drink from a cup, finger feeding, using utensils, brushing teeth, combing hair, and other basic daily routines.

Speech Therapy

Children with DS have difficulty in understanding language and expressing themselves. They find it hard to compose sentences and talk. With speech therapy, children will learn how to communicate effectively with other people. It’s not only through speech but also with proper gestures and expressions.

Choosing A Physical Therapist

In the past, not many parents realize the connection between Down Syndrome and Physical Therapy.  Modern parents know better now. Physical Therapy is an important aspect for the development of children with Down Syndrome. 

When choosing a Physical Therapist for your child it’s imperative to find one that focuses on long term goals. Some PTs are still caught up in delivering fast results. It really makes no difference whether your child will be able to sit upright when he or she is 10 or 15 months old. The long-term consequences of these 5 months is negligible.

Find a Physical Therapist who are willing to teach you how to incorporate the skills your child learned during therapy sessions into day-to-day routines. This way your child can improve his or her skills not only during therapy sessions but also when he or she is in the house.

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