Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism is a type of neurodevelopmental disease that affects how a person feels, thinks, and experiences the environment they are in. Every patient may experience this disease differently. Some of the most common characteristics of the patients with autism may include:
- Having discomfort in busy areas
- having trouble communicating and interacting
- delays in speech or language skills but may be good at problem solving and putting puzzles together
- poor posture and core strength
- impaired imitation skills
- tightness in muscles and joints
- having trouble learning new developmental skills such as throwing, catching, jumping, skipping or other types of sports related activities
However, as explained above every patient experiences autism differently and may have different characteristics.
Some signs a child with ASD might benefit from the help of a paediatric physiotherapist:
- Delayed achievement of gross motor milestones
- Difficulty with:
- Throwing, catching, kicking or dribbling a ball
- Jumping, hopping or skipping
- Playing on a playground
- Playing games or sports and keeping up with their peers
- Participating in community recreational or sporting programs
- Learning new physical skills
- Sitting in a chair properly, or for very long without fidgeting
- Poor posture
- Clumisness or frequent falls
- Toe walking
Physiotherapy for Autism
Physiotherapy can play a crucial role for those patients that experience difficulties with their motor skills. For instance, in the cases of children, the child may experience difficulties playing sports or having trouble with throwing, catching, skipping, or having poor posture and not being able to maintain their balance.
A professional physiotherapist can provide trainings and techniques for a child with autism to learn new motor skills in their developmental stage. Other goals in physiotherapy sessions may also include providing advise on improving posture, core strength, motor planning skills, balance to prevent falls and providing services such as exercise physiotherapy to improve the overall health of the child.
The developmental delays could possibly affect the children’s gross and fine motor skills. The goals of physiotherapy to gather information from parents, clinical physicians and other multi-disciplinary team members. The role of the physiotherapist is to take care of autistic children with motor impairments in the body (for instance; issues with respiratory control and coordination level, improvement in posture, and addressing misalignment in the musculoskeletal system including chest wall deformities as well as foot and ankle misalignment issues.
If you have any further questions in relation to pre & post-surgery rehabilitation, feel free to chat with us on our social media platforms or call us on (02) 9637 5708.
Zechariah Jebakumar A. Physiotherapy Cures Autism: A Review. International Journal of Pharmacy & Therapeutics, 8(2), 2017, 76-79.
Related words :
Autism Spectrum Disorder – Physiotherapist in Merrylands – Physiotherapist in Parramatta
Physio in Merrylands – Physio in Parramatta – Physio in Auburn – Laser therapy in Merrylands – Physio in Granville – Physiotherapist in Auburn – Physiotherapist in Granville – Shockwave therapy in Merrylands – NDIS physio in Merrylands