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Universal Exercise Unit
 The Universal Exercise Unit is our newest piece of equipment at the clinic. This versatile unit greatly increases our repertoire of exercises and treatment methods. The system of pulleys and weights allows us to strengthen any muscle group. Using the bungees gives us the opportunity to provide balance support while working on functional activities such as standing and crawling. For more information, pictures and a video, please visit Universal Exercise Unit at Starfish Therapies |
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Is Your Child On Track?
A Brief Description of Gross Motor Milestones Ages 0-3 years
 Keeping in mind that every infant and toddler develops at a different rate, this article provides a quick overview of when certain gross motor milestones are generally met. If your child is already receiving physical therapy services and this information is common knowledge to you, pass it along to a friend or relative who may be unaware of the importance of early intervention for a child who is exhibiting signs of a developmental delay. Listed below are a few of the most important gross motor skills in order of occurance in most infants and toddlers.
- 0-3 months: Lifting the head up during tummy time. This movement strengthens back and neck muscles as well as ensures that your baby will be able to clear his/her face to breathe properly during tummy time. Encourage your baby to do this placing noisy toys in front of him/her during tummy time or by having him/her lie on your chest and talk or sing to them.
- 3-6 months: Propping on extended arms during tummy time. This position strengthens neck, back, shoulder and arm muscles and facilitates bone growth through weight bearing. It is an improtant precursor to crawling. You can assist your child with this by initially placing a rolled up towel or wedge under the chest for support.
- 3-6 months: Rolling is another important milestone that generally occurs during this time. This helps strengthen the entire body but most importantly the core.
- 6-9 months: Unsupported sitting. This facilitates trunk control and balance while leaving the arms free to explore and reach for objects. Also, during these months, your child should be able to accept full body weight during standing with support. Weight bearing through the legs is extremely important for bone growth and hip joint formation. Lastly, your infant should begin crawling. Crawling will increase strength and allow for increased exploration.
- 9-12 months: Pulling to stand at furniture and cruising along surfaces. Encourage your child to do this by placing fun toys up on couches or tables during play.
- 12-15 months: While some babies walk as early as 10 months, most will generally start letting go here and demonstrate independent standing and walking.
- 15-18 months: Here your child will generally master walking and may even start running!
- 18-24 months: Jumping! Jumping is great for strengthening of the leg and trunk muscles as well as improving balance. Also, your child will begin to walk up and down stairs by placing both feet on each step while holding onto a rail or your hand.
- 24-30 months: During this stage you can expect higher and bigger jumps, increased independence with stairs, ability to walk on tip toes and maybe even tricyle riding dependending on the eagerness of the child.
- 30-36 months: This stage is all about balance! Encourage your child to stand on one foot, walk in a heel to toe pattern on the ground or on a balance beam, jump over objects, and alternate feet while climbing stairs. This way they can run around the playground with other kids without you having to worry about any major falls or collisions.
We hope this brief list has been helpful. For more information about developmental milestones including fine motor, language, and social skills refer to the following links and resources:
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