Children with autism often have physical limitations that require physical therapy. Their decreased ability to coordinate movements and other motor deficiencies may prevent autistic children from participating in mainstream physical activities. Physical therapy can help these children improve their fine and gross motor skills, increase their vestibular function and enhance their body awareness.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills are those skills and movements that involve large muscle groups. Actions such as crawling, walking, running, and stair climbing are examples of gross motor function. Children with autism may have less ability to coordinate the movements necessary to perform gross motor skills efficiently. A physical therapist working to improve an autistic child's gross motor skills would observe the child as he participates in various physical activities, and assess which muscle groups are being overused, underused, or used inefficiently. The therapist then helps the child make the necessary adjustments.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are those that involve smaller, finer movements. Writing, throwing a ball and painting are examples of fine motor skills. Often, deficits in sensory perception inhibit autistic children from processing external stimulants and making the appropriate physical responses. To help children with autism gain better control of their fine motor skills, physical therapists focus on helping them improve motor planning and sensory and reflex development.
Vestibular System
The vestibular system is in your inner ear and is responsible for coordination, balance and spacial orientation. Because autistic children often have hyper- or hypo-sensitive responses to movement, the their vestibular systems can become less effective. Through exercises such as walking on a balance beam and balancing on therapy balls, physical therapists can help an autistic child improve her sense of balance. Dance, karate and other activities that require coordination of muscle movements combined with balance may also help improve vestibular function.
Proprioception
Proprioception is awareness of body positioning, and involves the ability to know where your body is in space without actually seeing it. Correct posture is one aspect of proprioception that is often lacking in children with autism. To address this, physical therapists assess the autistic child's posture and body movements to see which muscle groups they need to strengthen and to check for adequate range of motion in all joints. The therapist may prescribe specific strengthening exercises and stretches to improve muscle tone, making it easier for an autistic child to maintain correct posture.
