9/24/2009 7:39:17 AM
How does physio help my child at school?
Can any physio treat my child or do I need a...
- How does physio help my child at school?
- Can any physio treat my child or do I need an NDT physio?
How does physio help my child at school?
The ability to perform skilled movement is fundamental to using, adapting and living in our world. From getting out of bed in the morning, to eating breakfast, to exploration through play and even paper-based learning activities, motor competence allows a child to fully participate in the world around him, ensuring he grows and develops with everything he does. Physiotherapy addresses the gross motor component of movement development. Gross motor ability forms the foundation for all other development and good gross motor control is a necessary pre-requisite for both fine motor and visual skills. It also impacts on a child's endurance levels, work speed, confidence and the ability to concentrate. Neurodevelopmental (NDT) physiotherapy is recommended for those children whose motor abilities are delayed for their age; affecting their ability to function or learn optimally and causing difficulty with development, school, sports or social participation.
Can any physio treat my child or do I need an NDT physio?
In South Africa, physiotherapist are only given an introduction to treating children with developmental delay and neurological difficulties in their undergraduate studies. Once they have qualified as physiotherapists, they need to complete post-graduate training to develop more expertise in this area. This post-graduate training can be done through the South African Neurodevelopmental Assosciation (SANDTA). Therapists who train through SANDTA are called NDT therapist. They have very different equipment to other physio's and their practices are set up differently. Although a therapist without NDT training can treat your child, most reputable therapist will refer you on to a therapist who is set up specifically, in terms of skills, space and equipment, to see children with neurological difficulties or developmental delays.
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