Physical Therapy Weekly Update
April 13-17
We hope this newsletter finds you all healthy and slowly getting adjusted to the new online learning. Everyone is busy learning new technology and adjusting to these changes. These newsletters will continue to be general and will have two areas of focus so that all our physical therapy student needs are addressed. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Amanda Peters, PT apeters@caiu.org and Sue Drda, PT sdrda@caiu.org.
Take care and be well,
Ms. Amanda and Ms. Sue
Gross Motor Skills of the Week
Standing on One Foot
The ability to balance while standing on one foot is an important developmental gross motor skill. It is also a component of many other skills. Do you put your pants on standing up? If so, you need to balance on one foot while you place your other foot in your pant leg!
The key steps of standing on one foot with stability include:
- standing up straight
- making sure your feet are pointed straight forward (not turned inward or outward)
- picking up one foot behind you by bending your knee
- shifting your pelvis and trunk sideward over your standing foot
- shifting the weight on our standing foot more toward the outside border of the foot
- making sure that there is a little space between your knees so that you are not bracing the free leg against the standing leg
Check out this video for some fun ways to practice this skill with your child:
You may have to offer support to your child with one or two hands held for balance and safety. Make sure to use both feet!
OR
Stand in front of full length mirror balancing on one foot.
See who can balance longer, you or your child. Try singing their favorite song while balancing.
Practice kicking a ball or knocking over bowling pins.
Put a small bucket in front of your child on the floor. Put a bean bag or small stuffed animal on your child's foot while they are standing on one leg. Have them put the object into the bucket while holding their balance.
Yoga Tree Pose
Balancing in Various Positions
A child’s balance can also be challenged in lower positions such as tall kneeling and half kneeling. In these positions you can:
play ball
pop bubbles
reach for objects
draw on paper attached to the wall by painters tape
watch a YouTube video
***If your child is unable to hold these positions, tall kneel behind them to support them.
For students that need help to move into tall kneeling, begin by having the child come up into all fours-quadruped.
Ms. Amanda Peters, DPT, Certified MDT
Email: apeters@caiu.org
Ms. Peters' Remote Office Hours
Mondays 4:00-5:00 pm
https://zoom.us/j/780713201?pwd=amJWK04xczVaWmxyZ1lGa2ZPa3g3Zz09
Meeting ID: 780 713 201
Password: 1234
Thursdays 12:00-1:00 pm
https://zoom.us/j/355905094?pwd=ZGRmbU5LTXgydmI3bmg2NjhiV25udz09
Meeting ID: 355 905 094
Password: 1234
Fridays 10:00-11:00 am
https://zoom.us/j/380679458?pwd=QTQ2T2s3ejB3N2ZaL2dJdHVnNndvUT09
Meeting ID: 380 679 458
Password: 1234
Ms. Suzanne Drda, PT, DPT
Email: sdrda@caiu.org
Ms. Drda's Remote Office Hours
Mondays 10:00-11:00 am
https://zoom.us/j/712202227?pwd=T1lsaG5GWm1mc1doZUFsc005TGtrUT09
Meeting ID: 712 202 227
Password: 1234
Tuesdays 12:00-1:00 pm
https://zoom.us/j/910722618?pwd=MGxrcytsaXVnV21iaCtNWVlnQ3M5Zz09
Meeting ID: 910 722 618
Password: 1234
Thursdays 4:00-5:00 pm
https://zoom.us/j/620104090?pwd=TFF4ZzVaS2J3TzFMZUErUnNQRU5Udz09
Meeting ID: 620 104 090
Password: 1234