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What is paediatric gait clumsiness?
Clumsiness is when a child has poor co-ordination and may have difficulty carrying out tasks that involve fine motor skills such as handling small objects. In the case of gait clumsiness, they will experience difficulty with the gross motor skill of walking. This can greatly reduce the independence of the child.
Above: Challanging balance exercises on uneven terrain.What causes gait clumsiness in children?
There are often no identifiable causes for clumsiness problems but they can happen as a result of other problems such as learning difficulties or behavioural disorders.
What are the symptoms of gait clumsiness in children?
Some of the main signs to look for with walking are:
- Tripping
- Taking uneven steps
- Problems with balance
What can physiotherapy do to help children with gait clumsiness?
Physiotherapy treatment will mainly consist of movement exercises and practice to improve motor skills. Treatment will be very functionally based so that improvements can be made in the child’s walking. There will also be advice on long term management of the problem so that it improves everyday life and development for the child and promotes independence.
Above: Side stepping exercise over obstaclesSummary
Clumsiness can make everyday life very difficult for children and their development and independence can be greatly affected. Physiotherapy can help to improve clumsiness.
To book an appointment or for more information about paediatric clumsiness contact us or call 0330 088 7800.
