How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
PTs have unique training in child development and motor control. This expertise allows them to assess a child's motor delays and functional performance. PTs work with your child, your family, and your child’s school to help them:
Engage and improve in daily routines at home and school
Acquire new motor skills
Develop better coordination and a more stable posture
Improve play skills, such as throwing and catching a ball with another person
Develop motor imitation skills (learn by copying others' actions)
Increase fitness and stamina
A physical therapist will evaluate your child thoroughly. This typically includes taking a health and developmental history. It will also include an assessment of:
Postural strength and control
Functional mobility (eg, walking and running)
Body and safety awareness
Coordination
Play skills
Interests and motivators
Ability to change between different activities
How your child jumps, hops, pedals a tricycle or bicycle, and skips
Daily routines in the home, community, and school
Your physical therapist will work with you to develop goals to help your child. These goals will help your child participate as fully as possible at home and school. Your PT will then develop a plan to meet your child's and your whole family's needs. No "standard" treatment exists for children with ASD. Each child's challenges and goals are different. Your PT will personalize a program to meet the strengths and needs of your child. They will work with you to monitor your child's progress. They will collect data to ensure their plan is helping your child. They will adjust the plan as your child makes progress.
Physical Therapy in the School Years (Including Preschool): Ages 3 to 18
Physical therapists work with parents and teachers. They increase awareness about children with ASD. They also help school staff understand your child's ability to function in school. PTs use the latest, most effective treatments to minimize your child's challenges. Your child's PT will work with you to help make the school experience a positive one. Physical therapists also recommend changes to fit your child, support learning, and teach movement skills. These may include:
Using ball chairs to reduce "out-of-seat behaviors"
Hula hoop, carpet square, or special seat to mark personal space
Whole-class movement breaks
Strategies to teach skills needed to play social games
PTs provide direct help when needed to improve a child's ability to handle challenges. They work with your child to deal with school bus steps, crowded hallways, the lunchroom, and playground. PTs work with school teams to promote skills like self-control, listening, and taking turns. They teach methods to your child to promote their ability to:
Copy the movement activities of other children
Develop concepts of direction, body and spatial awareness, and coordination
Take part in physical education and fitness activities
Physical Therapy During Adulthood: Age 18+
Physical therapists work with adults with ASD to promote success in daily life. They recommend community resources to increase movement. PTs develop personalized exercise routines. These routines promote physical fitness, body coordination, and recreation skills. PTs help people improve movement, function, and fitness. These skills help adults with ASD get and hold a job. They help them function at home, enjoy activities, and have a healthy lifestyle.
Article Courtesy: https://www.choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder
Congratulations to Darby, our intern from Samford University on completing her last clinical! Good luck with boards!!!
Philly Cheesesteak Skillet
Ingredients
1 tbsp AVOCADO or COCONUT OIL
1 pound sirloin or flank steak, thinly sliced
1 small bell pepper, sliced
1 small red bell pepper, sliced
1 small yellow onion, sliced
4oz baby bella mushrooms
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp SALT
¼ tsp BLACK PEPPER
1 tbsp COCONUT AMINOS
1 tbsp APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
2 oz grated pecorino romano cheese
4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
Method
Add the thinly sliced steak to a small mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper. Stir until the steak is well coated.
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add in the oil. Next, add the thinly sliced steak to the skillet and cook for two to three minutes on each side until brown. Once the steak has browned, remove it from the skillet and set aside.
Add the coconut aminos and vinegar to the skillet and stir to release any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Next, add the peppers, onion, and mushrooms to the skillet and cook the veggies until the peppers are tender but still crisp.
Add the steak back to the skillet and stir until everything is well combined. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top and then cover with a lid to allow the cheese to melt. Once the cheese has melted, remove the skillet from the heat and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Article Courtesy: https://allthehealthythings.com/philly-cheesesteak-skillet/
