Contact: For more information please contact Starfish Therapies 650-638-9142 or by email at info@starfishtherapies.com
We are also looking at adding other group ideas so if you have a suggestion please email us!
San Francisco Clinic Space
We currently are offering clinic based Physical Therapy on Monday afternoons in San Francisco. If you are interested in finding out more about this please contact our office at 650-638-9142.
Job Openings
We are still looking to add to our team, if you know of someone who would be a great fit, please pass the information along!
We are excited to announce that The Speech Pathology Group has moved into our clinic location. Please check out their website if you are interested in inquiring about their services.
It's physical therapy month and as a physical therapist we are always encouraging movement and exercise. The CDC (Centers for Disease control and prevention) reports that children should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity per day. Physical activity can be broken down into 3 types; aerobic activity, muscle strengthening, and bone strengthening. Aerobic activity should take up a majority of the physical activity that your child is participating in. Some examples of aerobic activities can be running or quick walking. These can be broken down into moderate intensity or vigorous intensity. Moderate intensity would be considered a 5-6 on a scale of 0- 10. 0 meaning just sitting and 10 is the highest level of activity. At a 5-6 your child's heart will beat faster than normal and they will breathe heavier than normal. Exercise does not have to be a chore, it can be a fun family activity to stay healthy. So go out and have some fun!
Aerobic Activities
1)Tag
2)Capture the flag
3)Team sports (soccer or basketball)
4)Bike riding
Muscle strengthening does not have to be just sit ups and push ups. It can be done in so many ways incorporated into fun and playful games.
1)Climbing ladders at the playground- helps with motor planning and building arm and leg muscles.
2)Swinging on the swing- This helps work on coordination, core strength to balance on the swing and leg strength to pump their legs.
3)Animal races: Pretend to be a bear (walking on hands and feet), dog (hands and knees), kangaroo (jump), or crab (crab walk) to build arm and leg strength, as well as core strength.
4)Obstacle course: can include hop scotch, jumping, running and throwing.
As muscles get stronger, the more we use them and the same applies to bones, the more work they do the stronger they get. Bone Strengthening includes anything that is loading your child's bones to allow for improved bone development.
1)Jumping- jump rope or hop scotch
2)Running- team sports
3)Walking - family walks
4)Dancing
Baby Carriers
As a physical therapist, I was recently asked by a new mommy friend, what baby carrier is best for her baby. There will always be pros and cons to every product, so here is a list of things to look at when deciding on what is the best product for you and your child.
Baby Carriers:
-Does the carrier allow your child's joints to be in a natural position. Babies are typically in a flexed position, meaning their knees and hips are bent and their back is more rounded, requiring support at their head. As your baby gets older, they should be able to hold their head up more independently and can be faced outwards to explore their environment. Make sure that your baby is not in the same position for an extended period of time and you switch them to face either right or left.
- Parent comfort: It is important that you are comfortable and in the best posture as well. If a carrier is asymmetrical, make sure to switch sides often so that you don't strain one side of your body. A carrier should also have good back support to accommodate for a growing baby, because as the baby gets heavier, the more strain it will be on your back.
-What material is your carrier made of? Again, you and your baby should be comofortable when using your carrier. Make sure there is soft padding to protect your shoulders and back. There should be extra soft padding and material if it is coming in contact with your baby's limbs, as their can be rubbing.
Although there is no medical research that states that any specific carrier puts children more at risk for hip dysplasia (misalignment of the hips), the International Hip Dysplasia Institute provides information on best positioning for healthy hip development that will further narrow down what carrier may work best for you and your baby.
