How Vestibular Rehab Improves Kids’ Balance and Coordination
If your child struggles with balance and coordination, it could indicate trouble with their vestibular system. My name is Becka Haensel, and I work with Metro Therapy Special Children's Clinic. Today, I'm going to talk to you about the vestibular system and how it can be improved.
What Is the Vestibular System?
The vestibular system helps inform our bodies how it's moving up or down, going slow or fast, and against gravity. Children may be under- or over-responsive to the vestibular system. What that means is when children are struggling, they either need more input or they may need less input.
Signs That Vestibular Rehab Is Needed
When children are clumsy or uncertain about moving, or uncomfortable with their feet off of the ground, or maybe their heads are tipped out of the midline, children are likely to get motion sickness. They may get dizzy really easily or be uncomfortable on elevators or even escalators.
How Pediatric Occupational Therapy Improves the Vestibular System
Our sensory gyms are designed specifically for children with vestibular needs. What they do is help the child respond to the vestibular system and get everything moving the way it needs to be moved.
Some of the activities that we use to help develop their vestibular system are using things like swings that may:
Go back and forth
Go around in circles
Rotate really fast
Move really slowly
We also have them hang upside down. They can go bouncing, using scooter boards. We have so many things within our gyms that are super helpful for children to grow in their vestibular systems. Each activity is carefully planned.
Call Metro Therapy for an Evaluation
We work really hard to understand what each child needs and help them improve and integrate that vestibular system. If you have any questions or want to schedule an evaluation, call Metro Therapy at (763) 450-9400.
