The Plank is often talked about as one of the staple “core” exercises people do. The problem with a traditional plank is that it is…
Autism, exercise, health
Does your child with autism have trouble keeping up with their friends at school?
Do they appear floppy? Like to lean on things rather than stand straight?
About 30 percent of children with autism have moderate to severe loss of muscle tone
This weakness, lack of endurance and reduced core stability then affects their gross and fine motor skills.
Signs of low muscle tone include
- poor posture (when walking, shoulders might appear rounded and when sitting, children might have a slouched posture)
- easily fatigued
- difficulty carrying out age appropriate fine- and gross motor tasks
- poor body awareness
- difficulty chewing food
- speech production difficulties.
These factors will then contribute to additional impacts that result from reduced physical capacity and participation. These often include
- Reduced participation in physical activity and sport
- Difficulty connecting with and maintaining friendships
- Behavioral issues
- Mental health issues
- Reduced concentration
- Poor health
Evidence is available to demonstrate that physiotherapy will enhance communication, socialisation, and behaviour.
Without physiotherapy, children with autism continue to present with motor deficits as they do not resolve with time.
They are at risk of developing chronic postural pain, mental health including low self-efficacy, social isolation and poor physical health and well being associated with cardio-vascular conditions.
Our physiotherapists work with many children with Autism.
We use our knowledge of movement, to help develop physical capacity, which helps to improve strength, balance, muscle control, etc, but also has the significant additional benefits of improving social inclusion and activity and therefore the social, health and well being benefits associated with that.
We keep our sessions fun and engaging!
There is no use at all in forcing someone to perform repetitive, specific exercises if they will not engage. This will lead to boredom, lack of continuing therapy and ultimately not achieving results.
We adjust our therapy plans to match the person.
We match out therapy to the persons goals and choose enjoyable, relevant activities to achieve those goals.
Options we use to improve enjoyment and engagement while achieving results include:
- Aquatic Physiotherapy: Makes movement easier (but can also provide resistance), is great for sensory regulation and we find many children who would otherwise not engage in sessions are great in the water!
- Reflex Lights: These add unpredictability and fun into otherwise physically hard work. They can also add a concentration element to activities to further challenge. Flashing lights that respond to touch
- Play based therapy – land or water, we often hide the exercise in a game, so your child doesn’t even know we are working on something specific
- Gym Exercise – sometimes your child will thrive with a more structured exercise program, especially as they get older and have been working with us for a longer period of time.
If you have a child with Autism who you would like to see get stronger, better endurance, increase activity and stay healthy long term, contact us to book an assessment with one of our team!
Book your appointment today
How We Can Help You?
Reformer Pilates: Mastering the Plank
How can we help your knee pain?
Do you suffer from knee pain? Has your knee pain been worsening for years and you’re wondering if you will ever be able to move…
The Best Reformer Pilates Exercise For People With Neck or Shoulder Pain
Do you stand or walk all day and suffer from neck or shoulder pain? Reformer pilates is a great way to develop your postural muscles…
Move well, then move often – are you prepared to live pain free?
Does pain stop you from enjoying things you would otherwise like to do? Do you just accept that it’s normal to get pain from doing certain…
ACL Rehabilitation: Surgical vs non-surgical
ACL rehabilitation without surgery might be just as effective as traditional surgery. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in athletic individuals. Between 2005 and…
Understanding and Managing Chronic Pain
What is Chronic Pain? Chronic pain is pain that has lasted for more than 3 months. For the vast majority of tissue in the body,…
NDIS Registered Providers in the Barossa Valley!
Tanunda Physio & Health are registered NDIS providers! We are one of very few registered providers for physiotherapy services in the Barossa Valley region. What…
How to know what weight to use when exercising?
A common question we discuss with patients is what weight they should be using for exercise. Whether that be as part of a rehab program,…
Looking for a long term solution for long term hip or knee pain? You will be GLAD you read this!
If you are looking for a solution to hip or knee pain that is proven, cost efficient and doesn’t involve surgery, we have the answer…
Clinical Pilates- What and Why?
What is Pilates? Pilates is a form of low impact exercise and movement which is focused on core strength and control of the whole-body. The…
Fit for Work Exercise Programs in Tanunda, South Australia
Work is no different to sport and exercise – you need your body to be fit and capable of performing at a high level. Tanunda…
Preventing Shoulder Pain in Throwing Sports
Shoulder injuries in throwing sports such as cricket are very common. Depending on where you look, stats show that up to 20% of Cricketers at…