Anyone else have a child with week core muscles?

[lego_mom]

My son is 10 and has week core muscles and a lot of sensory issues and motor planning issues. We are working on the sensory issues and the motor planning with an OT program outside of school. I am wondering what to do about the week core muscles? The only thing I can think of is PT, but I doubt my health insurance would pay for it since he is already doing the OT. Any ideas for other activities that could help? And is this something he will outgrow or are we stuck with this issue? I am realy getting worried as I think he is actualy getting weeker than he was before even though we are pushing him to do more as he gets older.

Jess

[Lollybrat]

My son has motor planning disorder, weak core, and sensory issues as part of his ASD. He benefits a lot from year-round swim lessons. My son also gets OT and APE (adaptive physical education) at school. If your child has gross motor delays you can ask the school for an evaluation to see if he equalifies for APE.

APE is mandated differently from speech therapy and OT. ST and OT are considered "related services" and only need to be provided if the child needs them in order to benefit from classroom instruction. (This is why schools often do not use OT to treat sensory issues.) However, APE is a "direct service" becuase children have a right to physical education seperate from classroom instruction. So even if your child does not have other learning problems, he may still be able to qualify for APE if he had gross motor delays.

[amandanmv]

The PT told us that DS had a weak core. She noted it when he tried to sit indian style for her. He's always lean back on his hands...she said his ab muscles weren't strong enough. We are currently in PT.
Our ins. only allows for 20 visits/year but PT and OT are combined...so we only get 10 OT and 10 PT per year.
We're hoping if we get another diagnosis they'll up the allowable therapies. So far we have an SPD diagnosis.

[StephandOwen]

My ds is almost 7. He has a weak core as well as one side of his body is/was weak (arm and leg). He was in PT for a little while (when he was 4) and "graduated" from it However, we're noticing little things creeping up again that make us wonder if the problem has returned He recently started doing karate and soccer (for special needs kids) and it has become painfully obvious that *something* is going on with his one side. I don't know what we're going to do about it. Next week he starts back at OT so I'll talk to her and see if she thinks we should do another PT eval (he would get it at the same place he gets his OT- when he was 4 he was doing PT, OT, feeding and Speech at this place.... I swear we were there more than we were home. LOL).

[Village Mama]

What about yoga?

[LynnS6]

Yoga, swimming, gymnastics are all good for core muscles.

Ds has weak core muscles too. His OT worked on it some.

[sarahr]

My dd was just evaluated by an OT for sensory stuff. In addition to the sensory stuff, the OT also found that she had weak core muscles/postural weakness. The OT said they could work on that. We haven't had many sessions yet, but they do a lot of swinging on big platform swings where DD is lying on her stomach trying to put a weighted stuffed animal into a basket.

[joensally]

We use gymnastics (you may be able to find adapted gymnastics), swimming, martial arts, and hippotherapy. The OT may be able to provide targetted exercises, and maybe advise the gymnastics program. We did this, although we had the PT do an assessment.

[AllyRae]

My DS has weak core muscles too, and most of his stuff is done through OT. But we also do 2 martial arts classes every week to add to what his OT does. We do a lot of targeted stuff at home (carrying heavyballs, encouraging him to play on monkey bars, doing wheel barrow races and crab walking, etc.)

[confustication]

DD (eight) has very weak core muscles. We work on it at home a lot as well - but it's slow progress as what has worked best for her has been swimming, and it's too cold here now.

[Mirzam]

Climbing is an excellent exercise for improving core strength. If you have an indoor climbing gym with a youth program, I highly recommend having you DS try it out. My 10 yo DS loves it.

[~cassie]

My 3 yr old also has weak core muscles, as well as all over weakness. He has gotten a lot better from last year but I can still see a lot of it. We do a lot of different at home exercises, like crabwalking, wheelbarrow, and climbing.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Lollybrat

My son has motor planning disorder, weak core, and sensory issues as part of his ASD. He benefits a lot from year-round swim lessons.

That was pretty much our story for a long time!

Weak core is part of a lot of other DX, like ASD. Swimming was GREAT for my DD. It's the only way she's ever been able to be on a sports team, and she LOVE her team suit, team cap, being in meets, etc.

Many exercises strengthen the core, and when ever possible, I think it is better for our kids to do what they need to through a regular kid activity than therapy. (I'm all for therapy, but normal stuff is good too!).

I'd start trying him with different activities and find something he likes. Parks and Rec or the Y are good places to look. (Climbing is great for core muscles, but would completely freak my DD out, you need to find something that suits your child).

[sbgrace]

Swimming is often one sport/activity that lower tone kids can do well but does it really improve tone? I'm not sure. (I'm low tone myself here and a great swimmer with a low tone child)

Everyone has mentioned great non PT things. Horseback riding in general is really great for core strength.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by sbgrace

Swimming is often one sport/activity that lower tone kids can do well but does it really improve tone? I'm not sure. (I'm low tone myself here and a great swimmer with a low tone child)

I think it depends on what you mean by "swimming." If you mean "getting in the water and playing around," then no. If you mean "swimming on part of a team, with a coach working on proper strokes and turns for 60-90 minutes 3-5 times a week", then yes.

And a lot of kids with low tone in the core area also have sensory issues. Swimming is great for that, too.

[lego_mom]

Thanks everyone these are great ideas. Its nice to know that my son is not the only one with a weak core and maybe we can realy get to work and help him get stronger. I realy wory that if he does not improve we will have to do a whole neuromuscular work up at the hospital (his doctor said this the other day due to how weak he looks and how much trouble he has walking and sitting up). Right now I have got my son is doing karate and soccer. He likes swimming, but he has a hard time keeping up with the other kids in his class and he has never realy gotten the hang of it. Maybe I should try a better swimming class for him or one for kids with special needs. I will also look into horse back ridding, as I can see that could realy help his core.

Jessica.