At Therapy Connections, physical therapists aid in developing and enhancing a child's gross motor skills to increase independence with movement in settings from school, home, and within the community.

Skills that may be addressed consist of balance, coordination, strength and flexibility. A variety of play activities are used to maximize a child's independence in their environment and their ability to interact with same-aged peers during movement activities.

Therapy Connections will provide a wide range of therapeutic services using evidence based techniques, and an interdisciplinary approach, allowing children with disabilities to achieve their highest potential.

Services are provided to children of all ages and various diagnoses that include Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, Dyspraxia, Down syndrome, Spina Bifida, and Language and Developmental Delays

Physical Therapy is often recommended to address the following:

• Generalized muscle weakness
• Orthotic management
• Biking skills/Amtryke
• Toe walking
• Gait training
• Delayed gross motor skills
• Poor posture
• Reduced endurance
• Difficulty with gross motor activities
• Recovering from injury
• Coordination

Therapy Connections is excited to extend services to pediatric orthopedic clients with varying concerns. Therapist-directed exercies and activities improve muscular strength, range of motion, and endurance.

Therapist-directed exercises and activities improve muscular strength and endurance.  Examples include:  lifting weights, body weight exercises, and use of resistance bands.

Heavy work is a type of proprioceptive input to the body that assists with calming, regulation, and attention. Proprioceptive input involves resistance to and/or against the muscles and joints of the body. Often, it involves pulling joints apart (ex: hanging, pulling/carrying heavy items, etc.) or compressing joints together (ex: pushing heavy items, deep pressure against the body, etc). Heavy work can be very beneficial for increased sensory processing and body awareness as well as strengthening to large muscle groups.

Skills for riding a bike begin at a very early age. Children first learn to ride “push bikes” at 18 months. Children then progress to riding a tricycle around 3 years old to a 2-wheeled bike with training wheels at approximately 4 years old and without training wheels at around the age of 5. Biking therapy helps identify skills lacking to complete bike riding independently. Biking promotes balance, strength, endurance, reciprocal movement, hand and eye coordination, safety awareness, and body awareness.