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Located in Shenton Park & Hillarys

Gross Motor Skills

Paediatric Physiotherapists are experts in their knowledge of normal development. We understand that every child has a unique developmental timeline however there are definitely average time lines in which a particular skill should emerge and be mastered. If your child is not progressing as expected or having difficulty mastering a gross motor skill, our Physiotherapists can help.

Our Physiotherapists are confident in assessing and treating children with:

  • Risk of motor delay related to prematurity
  • Running, stair climbing, standing on one leg
  • Difficulty with higher level balance skills – jumping, hopping, skipping
  • Difficulty with ball skills – throwing, catching, kicking
  • Difficulty with skills such as scootering and bike riding

Our Physiotherapists will perform a comprehensive assessment and screening of your child’s current gross motor skills and developmental milestones. This may involve observing your child’s body alignment, assessing posture, range of motion, strength, reflexes, perceptual abilities, sensory development and their ability to complete gross motor skills.

A treatment session may include the following:

  • Education and advice
  • Play ideas
  • Facilitation – handling techniques to promote skill achievement
  • Postural retraining
  • Balance activities
  • Stretching exercises
  • Strengthening program
  • Gross motor skills practice like running and jumping
  • Motor Planning – teaching your child how to break down complex tasks into smaller parts to make them more achievable
  • Coordination skills like throwing or catching a ball