When my child’s team suggested a Physical Therapy (PT) evaluation, I’ll admit I was completely puzzled. Physical therapy? I thought. This is the one area he’s great in! He loves to walk, run, and climb. Surely this isn’t needed. I was convinced this was one recommendation we could skip.
But as a parent new to the world of autism, I’d learned to trust the process. And I’m so glad I did. The evaluation opened my eyes to things I hadn’t really noticed, mainly because they weren’t problems in our immediate daily life. His PT helped with issues like low muscle tone and building core muscles—huge benefits that I hadn’t realized were a need.
This experience taught me that Physical Therapy, often called PT, is about much more than just the obvious movements. It’s about building foundational physical skills that unlock greater comfort, coordination, and confidence for individuals of all ages.
Physical Therapy focuses on the gross motor skills-the larger movements of the body-as well as strength, balance, and coordination. A Physical Therapist (PT) is an expert who assesses how an individual moves, their muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Their goal is to identify areas where targeted support can help improve movement, make daily activities easier, and encourage participation in play and other physical activities.
Physical Therapy plays a crucial role in enhancing physical well-being and independence, often addressing things you might not even realize are challenges until they’re improved:
Building Foundational Strength and Posture: PT helps develop core strength and overall muscle strength. This isn’t just for sports; it’s essential for good posture, stability, and reducing fatigue during everyday tasks like sitting in a chair at school or even just playing. This was a huge, unseen benefit for my son.
Improving Balance and Coordination: Good balance is vital for everything from standing still to navigating uneven surfaces or riding a bike. Coordination-using different parts of the body together smoothly-is key for tasks like catching a ball or climbing stairs. Physical Therapy uses targeted activities to boost these crucial abilities.
Enhancing Gross Motor Skills: These are the “big” movements like walking, running, jumping, and PT can refine these skills, making movements smoother, more efficient, and safer. My son’s inability to jump became a focus, and seeing his progress was amazing.
Supporting Overall Physical Comfort: Beyond specific skills, PT contributes to overall physical comfort and ensuring a strong foundation for lifelong This can include addressing how someone walks or moves, making daily life feel less effortful.
Just like with occupational and speech therapy, PT sessions are very movement-based and often feel like play, games, and fun exercises tailored to the individual’s interests. A PT might use obstacle courses to improve coordination, balance beams to challenge stability, or engaging activities to build strength. The focus is always on making the exercises motivating and relevant, helping the individual improve their physical abilities in a supportive environment.
For my son, because he loved being active, PT sessions were a natural fit. We even found that his physical therapist would collaborate directly with his speech and occupational therapists. She’d incorporate speech goals and things we were working on in OT right into his movement activities. This approach actually helped bring things home to him quicker and easier in a way that truly clicked for him.
Physical Therapy often works hand-in-hand with other therapies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to a child’s development. This interdisciplinary teamwork means that all aspects of an individual’s needs are addressed, leading to more integrated and effective outcomes. It’s about recognizing that movement, communication, and daily skills are all interconnected.
Physical Therapy is about empowering individuals to move with greater ease, confidence, and independence. For our family, deciding to pursue PT for our son, even when I initially doubted it, was a huge help for him at age two and continues to benefit him to this day.
Disclaimer: This blog post shares general information and personal experiences about Physical Therapy. It is not intended to be medical or therapeutic advice, and you should always consult with a qualified physical therapist or healthcare professional for a diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Next blog in this series: ABA Therapy: What it is Today and How to Choose Wisely