Physical Therapy | Autism PDD

hi- do any of you do physical therapy in addition to OT for your kids?  I know that there can be a lot of overlap between the two, but Im wondering if PT is something I should be considering for Ryan. Out OT does work on gross motor stuff, but there may be things that are more suited to PT.

If you do PT- can you tell me the sort of things that it has helped with, any what types of interventions youve used?

Thanks!

 

We haven't started it yet, but Daniel's neurologist is recommending to the school that he get at least an hour each week of PT. We find out in a month and a half whether or not they accept it and what they will be doing, so I'll update you if no one else has an answer.

We started PT a few months ago. Ethan hates it so it is really hard to go. She really makes him use his muscles, and it takes him forever to adjust to anything new.  She has him strapped up on a treadmill, she sits behind him and "walks" his legs, as he will not. She says this is for endurance. She has been putting him on a tricycle with feet straps and pushing him around the hallways. He hasn't figured out yet how to pedal, or doesn't want to. He really screams the whole time with both of these. She has him on the big exercise ball to use his ab muscles to hold and pull himself up. She also has a hammock type swing very low to the floor that he has to hold his head up, or hit his face on the floor. It all seems very barbaric to me, but I know his muscle tone is very low, and it is getting so hard to carry him when he noodles out, and to dress and undress him completely. I am really hoping that between the ot and this, He will be much stronger and have better endurance by the end of the summer. Poor baby, what he has to go through. I always wonder if I am doing the right things for him. I need a manual!  I think without the really low muscle tone and weakness, I wouldn't be doing it. He runs very toddlerish, arms flailing about, kind of off balance so I am hoping it will help this too. btw he is 3 1/2

 

Our dd has done PT on & off (usually for about 6 mos or so, then has a
break, then needs again) since she was an infant. She is dx w/ hypotonia
& from that now also has mild kyphosis (slight curvature of upper spine
forward), also one side is stronger (hemiparesis), poor stamina &
strength. DD hated PT for so long, but this new time-around, knowing
the PT very well & the PT knowing how to interact w/ dd (not too much
contact! LOL!), she LOVES it!! Things dd & PT work on:
*Running (for body posture, speed, & stamina)
*Stairs (alternating feet up & down)
*Throwing ball, aiming ball
*Jumping (mostly for forward distance)
*Standing on one foot
*Focus on lower or upper body, as well as trunk with: activities w/
scooters, walking like a frog or bear, reaching up high, stretching
*Riding tricycle
*We always get home exercise/activities to do (fun play for the kids, but
they focus on specific body parts & movements), also dd needed ankle
orthodics at one point, & PT was the one who id'd that problem and got
dd help for it

She is wiped out after PT & that is usually the one day I can guarantee a
nap! You may want your son evaluated, and they can tell you if he'd
benefit from PT. Our OT focuses on sensory integration first, & then
some fine motor skills. We defenitely see separate benefits from each
therapy.Elle2239266.8620138889We've been doing PT for almost 2 years. We work on things like running in and around cones to music in one direction...belly boards (I have no clue what they are called) but they have him go up little slopes pushing them with his arms and going down without getting scared, peddling a bike (that's a hard one), swinging,...those sorts of things. My son loves some of it, but still has a hard time with the peddling and going down a slope on his belly. Actually, he just reached a goal with the running around cones!
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