Core strength/posture/hypotonia

[2boyzmama]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...e&id=634508169

Here's a picture of Connor recently on a horse. [does the link take you to the specific picture, or just the album? If so, just click through the pictures to number 4] I didn't realize until I looked at this picture how *weak* Connor is in his core! Look at his posture! Heck, he can barely keep his head upright with that helmet! (and it was the smallest kid's helmet they had)

While he was riding, the instructor asked him how old he was. He tried to hold up fingers to show her, but he literally couldn't let go, and not because he was scared, the kid has no fear of anything, he just doesn't have the strength!

SO...I'm having to re-set my paradigms some. If you look at the other pictures in that album, there's one of him climbing really high on a playground. The kid can CLIMB, he can run, he can jump, he's quick and agile, and his strength to weight ratio appears really good. So it was easy for me to "miss" this core weakness. I knew he was diagnosed as having general hypotonia, but I just ignored it because it didn't seem to effect him in the slightest.

Now, though...

So I asked his school to do a PT eval on him. I signed the papers, who knows how long it will take for the eval. In the meantime we're going to take him back to this farm for as many pony rides as we can get in. Other suggestions?

[kittynurse]

The link takes me to a picture of an insanely cute baby!

We have core issues here - I'm interested in seeing that picture.

Martha

[sbgrace]

I can't see an album (just one picture and not the one you're talking about but adorable!).

Andrew has a weak core and hypotonia. He was also late to do all the stuff you mentioned though (especially jumping).

Horse riding will do the most for core strength if there is a way he can continue that. If he's meeting all his gross motor milestones I don't know if he'll qualify for therapy but if he does they can show you how to do ball work which is really helpful for core. But horses are the best!

[2boyzmama]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...9&id=634508169

Does this work? You can't click on "next" in the upper right corner? If not, I'll put just that picture in its own album.

[~cassie~]

Nope, there is no next.

Aidan has core strength issues as well. I never noticed it until it was pointed out. Things we do to help-sitting on a stability ball and have him do cerain exercises-like reaching to different directions. Making sure that when he sits in chairs he does not lean back, not letting him "W" sit and instead sits indian style. This is all we really do, I think, we don't have much outside stuff that we can do like the horse.

[2boyzmama]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...e&id=634508169

Here ya go.

[KCMichigan]

One of my DD has core issues, hypotonia (she has a mild cp dx, but is fully ambulatory- runs, walks, jumps, etc).

She qualified for PT at her IEP last year for balance and 'core strength'. She ,too, can climb, run, etc. But struggles to throw a ball with any distance, run quickly, sit straight for long periods, use a trike (core muscles), and on.

I am glad she qualified, for although she does not stand out tremendously from her peers---she is the first one to tire out, she still naps (at 4.5), fatigues very quickly, sits 'slumpy', leans on things, lays down a lot, and other things that indicate a weak core.

Her PT is GREAT and does 'kid' situps and other exercises to help build balance, stamina, and core muscle tone.

[~cassie~]

He's so cute and little up there!

My son has never been on a horse but I am rather certain that he would look the same way up there.

[karne]

I hear what you're saying about the core issues. I do want to say though that at least by this one snapshot, your ds doesn't look very different from most little ones when they get on a horse for the first time. If you think about it, there's a lot happening....big helmet, often affecting a child's sense of themselves in space, height or distance from the ground, a variable view from the back of the pony, and most importantly a pony moving with four beats, and your LO trying to keep balance while this is going on. This is what makes horseback riding so valuable, but it is a LOT to take in the first time (or few times) around.