| Description |
Children with sensory dysfunction are frequently referred to physical ther-apy with family concerns of poor coordination, weakness, hypo/hypertonia, impaired balance and difficulty with motor skills. They are often labeled as awkward, lazy or clumsy, and have difficulty physically keeping up with their peers, or performing basic tasks such as running, jumping, & stairs. Therapists are aware that the difficulty with these skills is related to sensory dysfunction, but the sensory-based element of movement is an area that often eludes physical therapists, resulting in frustrating interactions and inferior outcomes. However, synthesizing gross motor function with a sensory system foundation can improve out-comes for this population. This course provides practical insight into ther-apeutic interaction with children with both sensory system & gross motor dysfunction. Intervention strategies are provided, with the purpose of utilizing the sensory systems to effect change in gross motor perfor-mance. This course does NOT aim to teach sensory processing integra-tion therapy. Rather, it proposes how various essential components of “sensory-aware" intervention may be combined to facilitate purposeful effective results in the context of physical therapy treatment sessions.
The practical application of didactic information by way of simple tech-niques address the following obstacles to efficient gross motor perfor-mance:
• Sensory dysfunction
• Insufficient postural control
• Foundational weakness
• Instability & related poor mobility & incoordination
• Poor motor planning
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