Straws vs Sippy Cups: How Straws Support Speech, Feeding, and Oral Motor Skills Straws are a great tool to help with your child’s oral motor development. They engage the muscles of the mouth and face, aiding in oral motor development, breath control, and feeding. Drinking through a straw can improve a person’s lip seal, tongue…
Is your toddler having a meltdown? Is your 6 year old slamming doors? In these moments, caregivers face two difficult tasks: Taking a moment to keep themselves calm Meeting the child where they are to help them learn skills to self soothe and face future challenges Emotions are powerful. They can prompt us to do…
Squats – The Ultimate Functional Strength Exercise Typically, knee arthritis (osteoarthritis or OA) is characterized by reduced articular cartilage on the femur and tibia bones that make up the knee, and can lead to increased bony formation. Inflammation is usually associated and present at the knee when this occurs. The good news is, strengthening, flexibility/stretching,…
Creative Ways to Enjoy Halloween Candy: Fun, Safe, and Skill-Building Tips for Parents Halloween often leaves kids with bags brimming with candy—but what’s a parent to do with all those sweets? While a bit of moderation goes a long way, here are some fun ideas to keep candy consumption in check while also building speech,…
7 Incredible Benefits of Crawling When your little one starts crawling, it feels like a monumental moment—and it is! Crawling is much more than a baby’s first taste of independence; it’s also a critical developmental milestone that sets the stage for future skills. If you’ve ever wondered why crawling is so important, you’re in the…
Why Physical Therapy Is More Than Just a Massage Some patients come to physical therapy with the expectation that their treatment will primarily involve massage. It’s not uncommon for first-time visitors to ask, “When will I get my massage?” or to believe that a massage alone will resolve their pain. While massage therapy can provide…
Patient of the Month: Colton’s Journey to Confident Walking and Running At AzOPT, we love celebrating the hard work and progress of our patients—and this month, we’re excited to recognize Colton as our Patient of the Month. When Colton first came to AzOPT Gilbert in May, he was recovering from bilateral calf surgery (gastroc lengthening).…
As a parent or caregiver you may be questioning, “Why is my child’s therapist working on crawling when they can walk?” Or, “Why are we working on core strength when I am concerned my child is toe-walking?” The Role of Physical Therapists in Child Development As physical therapists our job is to examine and evaluate…
Sore? “Who Cares!” Achy? “No problem.” Stiff? “No big deal.” We…are Weekend Warriors, athletes, Crossfitters, exercisers! If we did not like to “feel the burn,” we would still be working out at a local gym using elliptical machines and machine weights. But when the feeling goes beyond the burn and enters into pain, or even…
Some children may have a difficult time regulating their emotions. This could stem from being unable to communicate their feelings or not understanding how emotions affect how their body feels. The Zones of Regulation curriculum developed by Leah Kuypers helps us teach children how they are feeling by categorizing emotions into zones that correlate with…
