Physiotherapy for Dyspraxia

Children and adults with dyspraxia will benefit from specialist neurological physiotherapy. Physiotherapy treatment will help adults and children to reach their maximum potential with their mobility and success with everyday tasks. Neurological physiotherapy will improve physical functioning as well as organisational ability such as concentration, accuracy and fine motor control such as handwriting. 

An initial assessment will look at how dyspraxia affects you. In adults, information will be gathered on difficulties at home and work as well as assessing fine and gross motor control. In children, your physiotherapist will assess if they are at an age appropriate level and if they have reached specific physical milestones (i.e. rolling, lying, sitting, standing and walking). Information will also be gathered on difficulties at school or home. 

Neurological Physiotherapy will be focused around:

• Activities to improve posture in lying, sitting and standing.
• Exercises to improve balance and coordination.
• Exercises to increase muscle strength in the trunk and the shoulders which will make daily tasks and sporting activities easier to achieve. Strengthening of the pelvic girdle muscles will improve balance and activities such as kicking a ball. These exercises can be followed up at home or in school.
• Activities to improve fine motor control such as holding objects and handwriting.
• Promoting mobility and success with everyday tasks. Activities for children may involve games making them fun and engaging.
• Activities to increase self confidence and self esteem. It is important for children and adults to engage in new activities and feel successful. This will also lead to better interaction with peers and increased concentration.
• Repeated exercises stimulating pathways in the brain which will improve organisational ability such as breaking down tasks.

From the initial assessment, your physiotherapist will develop short and long term goals at the centre of your treatment plan that are specific to your needs. 

For children, the physiotherapist may work closely with families and teachers so that rehabilitation extends out of the treatment session. If required your physiotherapists will write reports for special educational needs or reports for special consideration for exam boards.