Movement, Posture & Coordination

As children grow, differences in movement, posture and coordination may become more noticeable at home, school, on the playground or during sport.

Sometimes these differences are part of typical development and simply require reassurance. In other cases, assessment can help identify where physiotherapy, further investigation or ongoing support may be beneficial.

Concerns we help with

  • Assessment and support for children who find everyday movement tasks harder to learn or perform, including balance, ball skills, playground activities, bike riding and sport.

  • Support for children who struggle to plan, sequence or control movement, with practical strategies to build balance, coordination and confidence.

  • Assessment for children who take longer to learn physical skills such as running, jumping, climbing, catching, riding or participating in playground games.

  • Assessment of walking and running patterns that appear unusual, uneven or inefficient, including consideration of strength, balance, joint movement and coordination.

  • Assessment of common childhood leg alignment differences, helping determine whether reassurance, monitoring, physiotherapy or further referral is appropriate.

  • Support for children who frequently walk on the balls of their feet, including assessment of muscle length, ankle movement, strength, balance and gait.

  • Assessment of foot posture, walking, footwear and activity-related symptoms, with advice on whether treatment, orthotics or monitoring may be useful.

  • Support for children with concerns about sitting, standing or body alignment, particularly where posture is affecting comfort, movement or participation.

  • Assessment of pain affecting movement, school, play or sport, with treatment tailored to the child’s age, activity and underlying contributing factors.

  • Individualised physiotherapy for children with conditions affecting movement, posture, strength, balance or coordination, working alongside their broader care team.

  • Goal-directed support for mobility, strength, posture, equipment and participation, tailored to the child’s needs, abilities and everyday life.

  • Physiotherapy to support recovery after surgery, including restoring movement, strength, confidence and function through a staged rehabilitation plan.

  • Support for children whose movement difficulties affect playground participation, school routines, sport, recreation or confidence in everyday environments.

You might notice your child:

  • Trips or falls more often than expected

  • Finds ball skills, climbing or playground activities difficult

  • Avoids sport or physical play

  • Has difficulty learning to ride a bike

  • Walks differently from other children

  • Walks on their toes

  • Appears awkward, cautious or easily fatigued

  • Experiences pain during everyday activities

  • Needs support with sitting, standing, walking or mobility

  • Has a condition that affects strength, posture or coordination

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What physiotherapy may involve

Support is tailored to the child’s age, strengths, needs and priorities.

Physiotherapy may include:

  • Goal-directed practice of meaningful movement skills

  • Strength, balance and coordination activities

  • Support with bike riding, climbing, running or ball skills

  • Walking and movement retraining

  • Postural and mobility support

  • Advice about footwear, orthotics or equipment

  • Task or environmental modifications

  • Play-based therapy

  • Hydrotherapy

  • Support within home, school or community settings

  • Collaboration with educators, medical specialists and allied health professionals

  • NDIS reports or supporting documentation where appropriate

The goal is not perfect movement. It is helping children participate more confidently and successfully in the activities that matter to them.

Assessment

Assessment considers how movement differences affect everyday life, not simply how a child performs in the clinic.

It may include:

  • Observation of walking, running and functional movement

  • Assessment of balance, strength and coordination

  • Postural and musculoskeletal assessment

  • Joint movement and flexibility

  • Review of motor planning and movement skills

  • Discussion of participation at home, school and in the community

  • Standardised motor assessment where appropriate

The Motor Assessment Battery for Children may be used as part of a broader assessment of coordination and motor skills.

Learn more about assessments

A family-centred approach

Therapy is guided by meaningful goals and considers the child’s function, family life, fitness, fun, friendships and future.

Lumi Kids works alongside families to develop strategies that are practical, achievable and relevant to everyday routines.

Book an Assessment