We understand your concerns and appreciate your proactive approach. A comprehensive in-clinic physical therapy evaluation for your son would be an excellent first step to understanding the reasons behind his coordination challenges. Physical therapists specialize in assessing and addressing issues related to strength, motor control, and mechanics involved in activities like running and jumping.
A developmental pediatric physical therapist can perform a detailed examination to determine if your son’s coordination issues are due to a need for strength and coordination training, or if other developmental factors or medical conditions are contributing to his difficulties. Developmental pediatric physical therapy addresses issues that impact a child’s ability to grow, develop and participate in regular activities. Along the course of early development, the musculoskeletal and neurologic systems may have dysfunction and need attention to promote improved movement to increase a child’s independence and safety.
In general, breaking down movement patterns and practicing them step-by-step can be very effective for improving coordination and confidence in sports. Different sports require various types of movements, such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. By focusing on the specific components of these movements, physical therapists can help your son build the necessary skills and strength specific to the sport he is interested in.
For example, if your son wants to play soccer, which involves a lot of running and kicking, a physical therapist might first work on improving his hip, knee, and ankle strength and range of motion through targeted exercises. These might include hip abduction exercises to strengthen the hip muscles, knee extensions to build quadriceps strength, and ankle dorsiflexion exercises to enhance ankle mobility. Once these foundational elements are strengthened, they can be integrated into more complex soccer-specific movements like dribbling and shooting.
For a sport such as basketball, which requires jumping and quick directional changes, a physical therapist might focus on exercises to improve explosive power and agility. This could involve plyometric exercises such as box jumps and lateral bounds to develop the necessary power and coordination.
In sports such as swimming, which require fluid and coordinated arm and leg movements, a physical therapist would work on improving overall body coordination and strength, ensuring that each movement pattern is well-practiced and precise.
By breaking down these movement patterns and practicing them step-by-step, physical therapists can help ensure that your son develops the strength, coordination, and confidence needed to participate in sports safely and effectively.
Once the reason behind your son’s challenges is uncovered, his PT will work with him to create a tailored treatment plan uniquely designed to help him overcome any musculoskeletal obstacles he is facing.
Physical therapy can significantly improve coordination and confidence, potentially making sports more enjoyable for your son while preventing sports injuries.
Pediatric Physical Therapy
We understand the diverse needs of our pediatric patients from infancy through adolescence. Pediatric physical therapy assists in the early detection of health problems, in addition to the treatment of a variety of injuries and disorders/diseases that affect the muscles, bones, and joints.
