Balance and Coordination

A child challenges their balance and coordination many times a day just by being a child. It is tested by doing simple things such as walking over the grass to more complex activities such as kicking a ball or climbing up a ladder to go down a slide. Balance and coordination can be affected by a number of different causes; muscles not ‘firing’ or ‘working’ at the correct time, retained reflexes from birth, poor proprioception, muscle strength and length.

Physio can help determine the cause and teach specific exercises and activities to improve your child’s ability to explore and play with their friends.

Quick standing balance tests

• Can they keep their balance standing on one leg? is it the same (close) on the other side? if they are over 7 can they balance for more than 15 seconds on one leg?
• Can they walk along a curb or on a line and not fall off?
• Can they walk up the stairs without a rail, changing which foot lands on the step each time? do they find walking down the stairs challenging?
• Can they hop on the spot?