Therapy balls provide fun and benefits for children. Also called stability balls, exercise balls and Swiss balls, therapy balls come in a variety of sizes for children and adults. Your child should be able to sit on the center of the ball with his hips and knees at a 90 degree angle and his feet flat on the floor. A properly sized therapy ball will allow your child to participate in enjoyable and versatile exercises.
Practice Basic Ball Skills
The large size of a therapy ball makes it simple for young children to learn basic ball skills, such as throwing and catching. As the child becomes more proficient, movements can be added to make the practice more challenging. For example, children can perform drills and relay races or play games by bouncing the ball to one another. The ball can be passed to another child while stepping in a sideways motion, which can improve eye-hand coordination. Kicking the ball develops coordination and leg muscles. Even toddlers can learn basic ball skills by rolling the ball to another person and then putting their arms out to receive it back. Young children benefit from learning the concept of turn-taking.
Build Muscle Strength
Children's arm, leg and core muscle strength can be increased when they use a therapy ball. Core muscles are the deep abdominal and back muscles that stabilize and support the body as it moves. Trunk extensions help tone core muscles. An adult places some toys or small objects on the floor next to the therapy ball. The child then lays on her stomach on the ball while the adult holds her by the hips. The child reaches down to pick up the objects on the floor and then extends forward to place them on a nearby table.
The hand crawl exercise also develops strength in both arm and core muscles. The child lies on his stomach on the therapy ball with his hands touching the floor. Then he uses his hands to push himself around in a circle.
Physical therapists may use therapy balls to help children with physical challenges improve muscle tone and coordination. Educators Christine Stopka, Ann Goodman and Claudia Siders report that using therapy balls for children with severe, profound and multiple disabilities has many positive results, including sensory stimulation, group work, building confidence, aiming skills and just having fun.
Increase Balance and Posture
Sitting on a therapy ball engages the abdominal, gluteal and leg muscles. These muscles assist in balance and good posture. To sit properly on the therapy ball, the child should sit on the center of the ball with his knees in line over his ankles. His shoulders should be in line over his body and his head should be directly over his neck.
Award-winning teacher Meg Greiner of Independence Elementary School in Oregon states that the vestibular and cerebellum systems (inner ear and motor activity) work closely with the RAS system (reticular activation system). Together these systems help the child keep his balance, take action and move in a coordinated way. Greiner uses therapy balls to teach seat balance, foot patterns while bouncing and various other activities.
The Superman exercise aids in improving posture and balance. The child lies on her stomach on the therapy ball. She then extends her legs and arms straight out so her body is fully extended. If doing this exercise with both arms and legs is too difficult, she can raise her right leg and her left arm, then alternate them.
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