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Motor disorders: possible causes
Walking, running, jumping, all these activities that psychomotor therapists call “basic motor behavior”, are gradually implemented from birth to 12 years old. Acquiring perfect motor fluency is the result of a complex alchemy between growth, self-confidence, neurological maturation and body language organization, and all of this takes time. This is why we should not be unduly alarmed when a child still falls while walking or running, even if he is in a large section of kindergarten or in first grade.
He may also have a minor orthopedic problem. Many children have flat feet, their feet inside, or their feet apart. These disorders, which are most often physiological, that is to say related to age and called to fade gradually, explain a large number of falls.
Encourage your child to move
It is only by practicing that your child will develop basic motor skills. And it is only by strengthening his legs and feet that his small orthopedic defects will fade. Everything is good: walking on small walls, climbing trees, jogging, getting on your bike or scooter …
Leave your child barefoot as soon as possible
There is nothing like it for effectively building the muscles of the foot: being barefoot allows it to perceive sensations and become better aware of its body, while gradually training its muscles.
Motor disorders: when to consult?
If he suffers in his daily activities. If the falls are really systematic and handicap your child, if he lets himself fall, is afraid of falling or hurts himself too much while falling, you should talk to the pediatrician. If the latter notices the existence of a major orthopedic disorder, he will refer you to a specialist.
If he has any other symptoms. If the falls are associated with pain, lameness, fever, it is imperative to consult because these symptoms can be indicative of a “hip cold”. Between 5 and 10 years old, when a child complains of pain in the lower limbs, has difficulty walking, falls often and gets tired quickly, one should also think of osteochondritis of the hip. In either case, a hip X-ray or ultrasound will need to be done to confirm the diagnosis.
What are the treatments for motor disorders?
The doctor may ask for a psychomotor assessment to determine whether a slight lack of ease in motor skills (what we now call the dyspraxies), a small difficulty in dissociating his movements, a lack of adjustment of his muscular strength (too much or not enough momentum) or even a lack of appreciation of his space of action (unknown body diagram) are not in cause. These minor disorders are perhaps likely to hamper his development and therefore possibly deserve a few sessions with a psychomotor therapist.
A control of his sight can also be considered. Astigmatism, visual field abnormality can cause great discomfort to find one’s way in space. A discomfort that will easily go unnoticed by those around you but which will result in abnormal collisions, and of course many falls.