Physical Therapy for Development Coordination Syndrome
Development Coordination Syndrome (DCD) is a condition that is also referred to as dyspraxia, disorder of attention and motor perception, sensory integration disorder, and a myriad of other appellations describing the same symptom: clumsiness. Since DCD is a mesh between child psychology and pediatrics the frequent name changing that psychology is known for is brought to a condition that is physical. While DCD is often attributed to attention disorders such as ADHD there are differences in each condition.
The symptoms relating to DCD are entirely based within a child’s (or adult’s) motor capabilities. For example: tying shoes, climbing stairs, or poor penmanship are typical symptoms of DCD; however ADHD is usually determined by tests of retention, like having a child read a paragraph and recite what they had read. While children with ADHD seem uncoordinated due to hyperactivity they usually have control over their motor functions, this is what causes the two conditions to be equated to one another.
DCD is often a permanent condition, but physical therapy has been shown to subdue it by improving muscle strength and balance. Simple gait training and other physical therapy techniques can prevent the disorder from becoming far too overbearing Before assuming that you or your child has DCD check in with a physician and have them perform an examinations as the symptoms of DCD do often overlap with other developmental issues.
On Long Island, Island Sports Physical Therapy is offering assistance for children and adults with DCD. Island Sports Physical Therapy has six locations with an extensive list of available services.
October is National Physical Therapy Month
National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM) was originally started in 1981 by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). While it used to occur in June, the date was moved to October in 1992 so it would not interfere with APTA’s yearly conference. With a new theme each year, the one for 2016 is #ChoosePT. The goal of #ChoosePT is to raise awareness about the benefits of physical therapy as the preferred way to manage pain.
While using opioids is a common treatment for pain management, APTA argues that it may not be the most successful. According to the CDC, one in four individuals who use opioids for a lengthy period of time for pain management will struggle with addiction. By choosing physical therapy, you will be able to effectively treat the affected area and resume your daily routine as a safer alternative. This campaign wants to inform those who are looking to manage their pain that have a choice in how they are treated.
In addition to avoiding the negative side effects of opioids, choosing physical therapy first will not only speed up your recovery time but is the most cost effective. In some cases, choosing this form of treatment can be cheaper than the combination of surgery and pain medication while being equally as effective. For more information on #ChoosePT, you can visit their website as well as view any of their social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
If you reside on Long Island and are considering physical therapy, Island Sports Physical Therapy may be able to help. In addition to treating your injury, your physical therapist will provide you with the necessary information to stay healthy and know what to do if this problem happens again. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, they are committed to providing you with the most effective treatments to help you live a healthy and active life.