Autism and physical therapy

Zane Callister, DPT

Autism and physical therapy might not be a common pairing that you would think go together, but the reality is that many of the children we see in the clinic that have Autism participate in physical therapy as part of their treatment plan.

What Exactly is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects how people experience the world. Symptoms of ASD can vary from mild to severe. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives, while others require little assistance or only in certain areas.

ASD occurs in people of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and affects all genders. ASD is about four times more common in boys than girls. About one in 54 children in the United States are identified as having ASD.

Children with ASD can have delays in developing basic skills in several important areas. For example, some children with ASD can speak and interact easily with their peers. Others may need to learn to communicate in alternative ways or have trouble connecting with others. People with ASD may restrict their behaviors or have repeated behavior patterns. Copying the behaviors and actions of others may be difficult for some children with autism. Often, there is a delay in developing “milestone" motor and movement skills.

Autism and Physical Therapy:

In addition to developmental delays, many children on the autism spectrum have low muscle tone and experience difficulty in running, jumping, throwing, and similar physical activities. These issues can interfere with basic day-to-day functioning, and often interfere with social and physical development.

Physical therapists are movement experts. They improve quality of life through hands-on care, education of family members, and engaging patients in therapeutic activities and exercises designed to help develop motor and movement skills. Not only can a physical therapist help your child to build muscle strength and coordination, but the therapists at Ability Innovations prefer to do so in a play-based approach through activities and games which can improve functional and social skills at the same time.

If you have concerns about your child with Autism and their motor skills, come into our clinic for a free consultation to see how we can help!