Should I Teach My Child Sign Language? By Katy Gudim (Moakley), M.S, CCC-SLP Kids Place West Speech Language Pathologist If you have a child who is a late talker, late communicator or has a language delay, you may have heard of using sign language as an augmentative or alternative form of communication. Will my child…
Stretch of the Week: Super Lunge By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Begin standing tall. Step forward with your right leg, landing on the ball of your foot in a lunge position. Be sure to keep your shoulders over your knee. Place your right hand on…
What is Torticollis? By Andy Albrecht, DPT Kids Place Central Clinic Manager and Pediatric Physical Therapist Torticollis is a term used to describe a tight neck muscle. Congenital Muscular Torticollis occurs when a neck muscle, often involved is the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), is tight or shortened. This presents with a position of one ear towards the…
Stretch of the Week: Hurdle Step Overs By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist How to Perform: Begin in a standing position. While walking forward, lift one leg straight up and swing your leg as if you had to bring it over a hurdle (rotating the leg out and around). Continue walking forward and…
Stretch of the Week: Bear Hug (with hold) By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist How to Perform: Begin with your arms straight out to your side at shoulder height. Then cross both arms across the opposite side of your body as if you were trying to give yourself a big hug. Try and…
Child Development of Self-Care Skills By Jessica Holyoke, OTR-L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist Activities of daily living (ADLs) are a necessary part of our day and include various tasks such as getting dressed, bathing, brushing our teeth or hair, and feeding ourselves. Most of us place very little thought or effort when carrying out…
Stretch of the Week: Inchworm Crawl By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist How to Perform: Stand up straight, with your legs together. Bend over until both hands are flat on the ground, trying to keep your heels on the floor. “Walk out” forward with your hands until your back is straight and parallel…
What is Kinesio Taping and Can it Help Me? The Kinesio Taping Method was developed 30 years ago by Dr. Kenzo Kase, and since has been studied more than 500 times in 25 countries showing positive clinical outcomes. Since its development, taping techniques have refined and the tape itself has improved. The Kinesio Taping Method…
Sensory or Behavioral? How Do I Know? By Emily Pierson, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Sensory processing refers to a person’s ability to take information from the environment using their seven senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, movement, and position) and interpret that information to make sense of the world. When any part…
Stretch of the Week: Carioca/ Grapevines By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist How to Perform: Start in an athletic position and begin by moving to your left. Drive your right leg up and across your body, crossing the leg in front of your left and planting it on the ground. Then bring your…
