How Does Riding a Bike Help Developmental Skills?
Recently in the clinic I was asking a parent if her daughter has ever ridden an adaptive bicycle. She said she wasn’t sure but that she probably did in school. She then asked, “what kinds of things would that help her with anyway?” “So, I figured I’d answer it for all of you who may…
Should Your Child Crawl Before They Walk?
Developmental milestones, specifically crawling before walking, has become a topic of debate among pediatricians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and so on. I was working on crawling recently with a client when the topic came up. Why do they need to crawl before they walk? There’s evidence it may not matter and that if they skip…
Belly Breather VS. Chest Breather and Why It Affects Your Loved One’s Balance:
So let’s review…We talked recently about the “soda can model” of breathing and how it affects posture. (If you didn’t get a chance to read that and would like more details click here). We discussed how important it is for all of the pressures to balance so that we can function and go about our…
A Can Of Soda – And How It Relates To Posture and Breathing
Do you have a child that has poor posture? Difficulty swallowing? Difficulty with bowel/bladder excretions? This concept I am about to explain will actually relate our BREATHING to all of these different issues. You may be saying… “How on earth is a can of soda related to breathing or posture?!” I was thinking the same…
The Harmful Effects of Stress and What You Can Do About It
It is a known fact parenting is stressful, but parenting a child with special needs that may or may not have siblings also, DEFINES stress! I see it every single day with the parents that come into the facility. You are managing doctors visits, therapy visits, school issues, fighting insurance companies, making sure they get…
What Is The Difference Between Muscle Tone And Strength?
Often as a physical therapist, I get the question “What is the difference between muscle tone and strength?” I’ve decided to put together a fact sheet for EASY distinction on the differences so you, as a parent, can better understand your child. Muscle TONE is defined as the tension in a muscle at rest. It…
5 Fun Things To Do In The Holiday Season
Well, the holidays are here! While it can be a very busy time for everyone, it is also a fun time where families can spend more quality time together. So, I want to let you know what is going on around Long Island that you may be able to do with your loved ones this…
Sibshops Are Coming to Breakthrough PT!
After last minute notice and planning, I attended a two-day conference recently to be trained in facilitating Sibshops. Have you ever heard of them? Before a month or so ago, I hadn’t either…but once understanding what they are and the value they hold, they are quite amazing! I want to take you through my experience…
Upcoming Research: Did You Save Your Child’s Umbilical Cord Blood?
I am sure you’ve heard of the growing attention to the benefits of saving your child’s umbilical cord blood. If you haven’t, it would be a great idea to read up on it. One of the mothers that brings her daughter her weekly asked me about it and what I knew about it. So, I…
5 Negative Effects of Poor Posture That You Probably Haven’t Thought Of
I’ve discussed with a few parents in the clinic lately the effects of posture on their child’s function. Their response was “wow, I didn’t even think of that”….so I figured, I needed to share it with everyone so you can also be aware! Aside from the typically thought of effects of poor posture such as:…
