What is Gross Motor Delay?
Gross Motor Delay refers to a slower than expected progression of a child’s physical development.
In particular it refers to a delay in a child’s ability to perform physical tasks that involve large muscle groups, such as crawling, walking, running, jumping, or balancing.
At Community Therapy, we offer caring Physiotherapy to families and children with concerns about the condition.
Improving gross motor development
Increasing mobility & coordination
Correcting lower limb alignment
Head shape protection and correction
Reducing pain and discomfort
Improving balance and posture
Building confident and self-esteem
Enhancing a child’s ability to participate in daily activities and play
Understanding Developmental Guidelines
There are well documented gross motor development milestones with an example being the World Health Organisations standards here.
These guidelines and others provide an indication of when children should be able to perform basic gross motor skills such as sitting, crawling and walking through to complex gross motor skills like skipping and catching a small ball.
We may reference these during our assessment.
Causes
A delay in gross motor development can result from a variety of factors such as:
- Premature birth
- Genetic conditions
- Neurological conditions
- Muscle strength or tone abnormalities
- Sensory issues
- Environmental factors
Diagnosis
An Allied Health professional, such as a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist, or a Doctor typically diagnoses a gross motor delay through conducting a developmental assessment.
There are standardised tests, such as the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale or Alberta Infant Motor Scale, which health professionals can complete to accurately diagnose a gross motor developmental delay.
How Physio Can Help Your Child
A Physiotherapist is able to support a child to:
- Increase their strength
- Improve their balance and coordination
- Improve their posture and mobility
A Physiotherapist will collaborate with the family to provide recommendations for home exercises and activities that can help improve gross motor skills between therapy sessions.
Physiotherapy Treatment Plans for Gross Motor Skills
Individualised Approach
Each child’s Physiotherapy plan is different depending on their gross motor skills and condition(s) that they may be living with.
Assessment
Every child’s Physiotherapy support will start with an initial assessment to assess their gross motor skills and to develop a treatment plan.
Sessions
Most children will receive regular therapy sessions and the frequency of this can vary from weekly to monthly usually.
Physiotherapy sessions will usually involve reviewing a child’s progress, refining how they are completing exercises and activities, giving advice to the family and introducing new exercises or activities as required.
Future Support
When a child has achieved their gross motor developmental goals or are now on a trajectory to achieve these without ongoing Physiotherapy support, the Physiotherapist will discharge the child from Physiotherapy with a clear plan for the family.
Fun and Enjoyable Home Visits
Physiotherapy at home is wonderful as it allows the Physiotherapist to support the child in their natural environment.
This leads to improved compliance with therapy programs as the program can be designed to be realistic to complete at home with a family’s support.
Home visits also allow the Physiotherapist to make environmental recommendations to the family such as any changes to seating, sleeping or other aspects of daily living that may be impacting gross motor development.
Therapy and exercises will usually occur in a living room, toy room, bedroom or outdoors.
Understanding NDIS Funding
If a child is living with gross motor delays then they will likely be eligible for NDIS funding.
If required, a Physiotherapist can conduct assessments and complete reports to support an application to the NDIS.
Getting Started with Community Therapy
Community Therapy proudly offers the services of Physiotherapists who are members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
- Call us to find out more about our team of Physiotherapists.
- We are mobile and come to you!
- We help people achieve their goals with the right supports and services
- We are locally owned and operated
To get started with Community Therapy, please get in touch! We welcome all enquiries!
Paediatric Physiotherapy FAQs
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How do you differentiate between a developmental delay and a developmental disorder?
Developmental delay involves slower development of gross motor skills, with the potential for these skills to be acquired over time.
In contrast, a developmental disorder refers to a long-term condition where certain skills are unlikely to ever be acquired due to physical or neurological impairments.
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Are there specific equipment or classes you recommend to encourage my child's gross motor development?
Physiotherapists will recommend low cost items for a family to purchase if required, however, most times a family has what is required.
Additionally, activities like gymnastics, athletics, dance and swimming are wonderful for developing gross motor skills.
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How do gross motor delays impact other areas of development, such as fine motor skills, speech, and social skills?
Gross motor delays can significantly affect the development of fine motor skills, speech, and social abilities.
For instance, if a child struggles to sit upright, developing handwriting skills may be challenging.
Similarly, difficulties with gross motor skills can affect a child’s confidence, which may, in turn, impact their speech development and social interactions.
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What can I do to create a supportive environment at home to improve gross motor skills?
Creating a supportive environment at home can help foster gross motor skill development.
Encourage activities that promote movement, such as crawling, climbing, or jumping, based on your child’s developmental stage.
Provide safe and open spaces for active play, and use toys or equipment like balls, ride-on toys, or balance beams to make activities engaging.
Incorporate daily routines that involve physical movement, like dancing or stretching, and offer positive reinforcement to build confidence. Most importantly, be patient and celebrate small achievements to keep your child motivated.
