Crouch Walking? Try Kicking a Raised Target 👧🏽🦵✨ | Pediatric Physical Therapy for Kids with CP

Hello! My name is Amy Sturkey, and I am a pediatric physical therapist 👩🏻‍⚕️💙. I’m here with my wonderful co-instructor, Alexis 👧🏽. Alexis is 10½ years old and has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She functions at a Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level III/IV. Alexis can walk with trunk support 🤲🏽, does well with two hands held, can take short distances with one hand held, walks in a walker with help to steer, and uses a wheelchair for longer distances ♿. She has a communication device 💬, is learning to drive a power wheelchair 🚗, and has a strong understanding of what is said to her. She is hardworking 💪🏽, expressive 😊, and a joy to problem-solve with. In this session, we are working on reducing Alexis’s crouch walking pattern by practicing kicking a large lightweight block placed on a slightly raised surface (approximately 5 inches high) 🧱⬆️. This activity targets single-leg stance, upright posture, and active kicking 🦵🏽, while encouraging stronger extension through the hip, knee, and ankle of the stance leg. As you’ll see in the video 🎥, Alexis initially tries to solve the task in ways that feel most familiar to her — using her hands ✋🏽 or stepping both feet up rather than isolating a kick. Through trial and error, I adjust the support I provide to help her access the movement pattern we’re targeting. This includes upper trunk support for balance, stabilizing the stance leg 👟, and changing my assistance as Alexis figures out how to successfully kick the block down 💥. This kind of real-time problem-solving 🧠✨ is an important part of pediatric physical therapy. Children with cerebral palsy often have difficulty keeping one leg grounded in stance while the other leg performs a different action. Both legs may want to move together, which makes isolated kicking especially challenging. By practicing kicking an elevated object: • the stance leg must work harder to stay tall and stable 🦶🏽 • the kicking leg must lift and move independently 🦵🏽 • the body practices upright alignment rather than sinking deeper into crouch ⬆️ By the end of the session, Alexis demonstrates clearer kicks — particularly with her less involved left leg — while continuing to work toward improved control on her more involved right side 💪🏽💙. I hope this video is helpful for therapists and families 👨🏾‍👩🏽‍👧🏾 working on crouch gait, single-leg stance, and functional strength for children with cerebral palsy. Thanks so much for watching 🙏🏽 — we’ll look forward to seeing you next time! 🎥 Watch all of Alexis’s videos (playlist): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjNQyu5vJsft6bWiGCmEU-nR 🌐 More from me: Website: www.pediatricPTexercises.com Facebook: Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises Email: amysturkey@gmail.com ⚠️ Important note: These videos are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for in-person pediatric physical therapy. Every child is unique. I cannot provide treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated. For individualized care, please consult a local pediatric physical therapist. 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey (Amazon) Children’s Books: P is for Poop and Pee Accidents — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 A is for Anxiety — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR C is for Cerebral Palsy — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP D is for Down Syndrome — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 A is for Autism — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB Professional PT Books: Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction & overview 👋🏽 00:20 Why kicking elevated objects helps reduce crouch 🦵🏽⬆️ 00:43 First attempts at isolating a kick 01:10 Adjusting support to encourage kicking instead of stepping 🤲🏽 01:38 Stepping habits vs. true kicking 02:06 Trying different strategies and sides 🔄 02:31 Noting asymmetry between right and left legs 02:54 Encouraging upright stance during kicking ⬆️ 03:18 Clearer kicks with improved control 💪🏽 03:42 Why single-leg stance is hard for kids with CP 04:00 How kicking strengthens the stance leg against crouch 04:09 Closing thoughts & subscribe reminder 🔔