Looking for a safe place and an expert team to deliver Physiotherapy to someone you know with an Intellectual Disability?
We can help!
Physiotherapists Help Motor Skill Development in ID
Physiotherapy programs for people living with developmental and intellectual disabilities involve understanding how these conditions can affect movement, learning, and motor planning.
Each person and the way their condition impacts them is very unique which requires looking deeper into the goals of the individual and how to best utilise exercise and physiotherapy to reach them. When working with people with developmental or intellectual disabilities our Physiotherapists look for task or game based movements that work towards the clinical goals while enjoying the sessions. Our Physiotherapists modify and adapt their programs regularly to meet the needs of our clients and their goals.
Physiotherapy Can Help With:
Management of physical health, including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels
Increasing strength, which can improve functional capacity
Improved mood in the context of clinical depression and anxiety
Improved confidence with exercise
Improved gross motor function for children with intellectual disability and autism
Support for weight management
Support for behaviour management
Improved quality and/or quantity of sleep
Improved mobility
Improved balance and coordination
People living with intellectual disabilities are among the least active in our population. Unfortunately, for kids living with disabilities, a delayed development leads to reduced physical activity and further limitations to learning the same motor skills as others their age.
Not only are motor and social skills not developed, but this physical inactivity leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. People with disabilities benefit from the overall health improvements of exercise, as well as benefiting from improving specific deficits linked to their condition.
Physiotherapy programs help people with developmental delay to learn new movement patterns such as walking, crawling, and jumping. Further, exercise improves muscle tone and balance.
For people with intellectual disabilities, exercise often helps increase ability to focus and improves confidence to interact throughout their community.
Learn More About How We Can Help
We have extensive experience working with individuals living with
Down syndrome
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Developmental delay
Prader-Willi syndrome
Williams syndrome
Bardet-Biedl syndrome
Foetal alcohol spectrum syndrome
Angelman’s syndrome
Chromosomal disorders
Fragile X syndrome
Intellectual disability is a broad term used to describe difficulties in learning and communication which can significantly impact the daily life of the individual and their family. The impact of intellectual disability on a person’s independence and functional capacity can range from mild to severe or profound.
Achieving excellent health and wellbeing may seem daunting to individuals with intellectual disability and/or their carers, and it can be difficult to know where to start!
Swan Physiotherapy’s skilled, expert allied health team provide high quality intellectual disability services and support. We can help by assessing your needs and goals and providing recommendations to get you started.
Give us a call on 08 9274 6711 or fill our referral form below to arrange a call.
To contact us email contact@swanphysiotherapy.com.au or complete the form.
How to find us
Swan Physiotherapy is located at 280 Great Eastern Highway, Midland (within the Swan Medical Group complex). Ideally placed for Midvale, Helena Valley, Midland, Bellevue, Forrestfield, Perth foothills and Guildford.