Gross motor developmental delay
Gross motor skills are the activities we perform in our daily lives that involve using large muscle groups in order to perform whole body movements. Rolling, crawling, sitting, standing, walking, running, and jumping are all examples of gross motor skills. A gross motor milestone is a marker that represents a point in gross motor development when a skill has been acquired. Because each child is unique in his or her development, the typical age range for meeting a particular gross motor milestone can be very large. Despite this, some children may struggle to acquire certain motor skills at the expected times. While some of these children catch up to their peers without intervention, others may be at risk of falling further behind or developing improper movement strategies that can affect their future posture and mobility.
Delays in gross motor development can occur for many reasons, including the presence of a medical diagnosis, abnormal muscle tone, decreased strength or range of motion, or a lack of environmental exposure to developmental positions or activities. Regardless of the cause, gross motor delays can be addressed successfully through physical therapy.
A pediatric physical therapist is trained in evaluating infants and children for existing or potential gross motor delays at any age. If you are concerned about your child’s motor development, or have questions about the role of physical therapy in the treatment of motor delay, contact us (with link to “contact us” page) for more information.
Delays in gross motor development can occur for many reasons, including the presence of a medical diagnosis, abnormal muscle tone, decreased strength or range of motion, or a lack of environmental exposure to developmental positions or activities. Regardless of the cause, gross motor delays can be addressed successfully through physical therapy.
A pediatric physical therapist is trained in evaluating infants and children for existing or potential gross motor delays at any age. If you are concerned about your child’s motor development, or have questions about the role of physical therapy in the treatment of motor delay, contact us (with link to “contact us” page) for more information.