Why Is Our Core So Important?!

Core Strength

As therapists we talk about the core all the time, whether we are talking about your child or talking directly to you, I’m sure you’ve all heard it before “it’s because of the weakness in your core,” but what does this really mean and why is our core so dang important?! We have had countless…

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Two Main Reasons WHY Your Child Might Navigate Stairs UNSAFELY

Stair Navigation

I was inspired to write about navigating stairs after one of my recent marathon runs but specifically my one in Corning, NY. The day after my 26.2 miles, I decided it would be a great idea to hike…😃 So…that’s where this leads me. I was sore, my muscles didn’t want to work properly and I…

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What It Means To Have A “Weak Core”

Weak Core

Parents of children with movement difficulties – no matter the diagnosis – are often told by doctors, therapists, and other health professionals that their child has “a weak core”. Okay so they can’t do a sit up or they have weak abdominals…but that’s not really all that goes into a “weak core” or poor posture.…

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5 Benefits of Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (Even If Your Child “Can’t Walk”)

Child on treadmill

Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (BWSTT) is a long fancy name for walking on a treadmill with support. “Body weight supported” is usually done with the help of certain types of equipment (i.e Universal exercise unit, gait trainer, etc.) Here specifically, are the things I have seen it help with firsthand. Improved Endurance: Ahhh yes,…

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5 Reasons Why Your Child May Have Balance Issues

We see and hear reports of balance issues a lot…. whether your child has difficulty navigating throughout the community or even just a hard time standing in place by themselves, balance is HUGE for their ability to perform daily tasks independently. There are not only five reasons your child may have poor balance, but here…

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Why You Should Break The Habit of W-Sitting

W-sitting

Bad habits …. we all have them. Whether is biting your nails, fidgeting with your pen, cracking your knuckles….the list is endless. Usually these are pretty harmless poor habits but other times, like W-Sitting, it can have a significant effect on your child. A lot of the time parents don’t even know what it is…

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How Does Riding a Bike Help Developmental Skills?

Child Riding Bike

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…

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Should Your Child Crawl Before They Walk?

Baby Crawling

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…

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