Autism Symptoms Addressed by Physical Therapy
“We can help a child with autism learn a variety of age-appropriate motor skills, from throwing, catching, and kicking a ball to jumping, hopping, and riding a bike,” explains West-Low. But there are other less playful physical therapies required by autistic children, such as:
Treating impairments in the systems that impact motor function, such as problems with respiratory control and coordination
Improving posture
Addressing misalignments in the musculoskeletal system, such as chest wall deformities, and foot and ankle misalignments
Developing fitness programs for older children with autism; for example, West-Low runs a yoga program for autistic children