Does your child have trouble getting themselves dressed, tying their shoes or riding a bike? Do they have frequent falls or struggle to keep up with their peers at swimming lessons or soccer? If you answered ‘yes’ to any or all of these, your child may have Developmental Coordination Disorder. Developmental Coordination Disorder, also known as DCD or dyspraxia, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the ability to plan, execute and co-ordinate movements. Research has shown that 5% of all children have DCD and it is under recognized and often missed. There are 4 criteria that need to b ..read more

How often do you hear yourself saying ‘sit up straight’ or ‘stop slouching’. Increased screen use, rapid growth, carrying heavy school bags (what happened to lockers in school?), poor self-esteem and reduced sport participation can all lead to posture problems in teenagers. If seeing your teen slumped over in bed on their laptop, hunched on the couch scrolling on their phone or leaning over their desk doing homework is a familiar sight - you are not alone! What’s wrong with poor posture? In these positions your child’s head sits in front of their shoulders increasing the flexion in their nec ..read more

“W” siting describes the po sition of a child when siting on the floor knees together and feet pointing outwards. Why do children W sit…? Children W sit for a number of reasons. When a child W sits they create a large base of support and a lower centre of gravity. In this position the posture muscles of the trunk and core don’t need to work hard and often not at all! For this reason, it can be a stable position for some children particularly those with lower than average tone, flexible joints or weak core muscles. This makes it easier to use their arms and hands for play. No wonder they do it ..read more

Lower limb alignment in children Parents are often concerned about the alignment of their child’s legs. Some children walk with their feet turned in and some with their feet turned out. Others have knock knees or bow legs. This article is Part 1 in a series will explain the different types alignments commonly seen by paediatric physiotherapists. There are a number of things that affect lower limb development in the growing child how tightly packaged they were in utero genetics (take a look at your own legs!) environmental factors like W sitting and how much exercise a child gets Most childr ..read more

So you think your child is hypermobile? Hypermobility refers to the ability of a joint to move through a greater than normal range of motion. To understand how this happens let’s start with some simple anatomy… Our joints are held together by connective tissue – namely the joint capsule and various ligaments. Connective tissue is made up of collagen which is flexible but strong. In some people the collagen is more stretchy and weaker allowing joints greater range of motion. Think of gymnasts, ballet dancers, even swimmers – they all probably have some degree of hypermobility. Many children (an ..read more

A 2017 study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics has found a link between Plagiocephaly and developmental delay. The study conducted by The George Institute for Global Health and the University of Sydney reviewed 19 papers and found the most common delays were in motor skill acquisition such as sitting and crawling. Delays in language and cognition that lasted up to 3 years were also found. The study does not show that Plagiocephaly causes delays, however it does demonstrate a link. The lead author Associate Professor Alexandra Martiniuk, encourages early inter ..read more

Teen Pilates classes have started at MGS Physiotherapy Mona Vale Focusing on posture, body awareness, balance and core strength our Teen Pilates classes include both equipment and mat based exercises that are a non-competitive way to get your teens moving well. Bookings open for term 3 - contact MGS Physiotherapy reception 9979 6978 ..read more

A guide to your new baby’s development From birth to 3 months Congratulations on the birth of your baby! The next 3 months will be a very busy time developmentally for your little one. This Blog is intended as a basic guide as to what to expect and how you can play with your new baby over the next 3 months. Remember all babies develop at different rates. If you are concerned about your baby’s gross motor development please see your GP, Early Childhood Nurse or Paediatric Physiotherapist Let your baby have lots of unrestrained floor play in a safe environment Get on the floor and play with your ..read more