Not Using the Weaker Side? Try This Step & Catch 👨🏽‍🦱🏀 | Mild Hemiplegia PT #3

👋🏽 Hi, I’m Amy Sturkey, a retired pediatric physical therapist with over 35 years of experience. If a child consistently avoids using their weaker side, sometimes you have to structure the activity so they *have* to use it. In this video with Macari, we work on stepping and catching while forcing right-sided use. By anchoring the left foot and directing where the ball is passed, we create a situation where he must lead with his right leg and use both arms together. 👨🏽‍🦱 Meet Macari Macari is 18 years old and has right-sided hemiplegic cerebral palsy due to schizencephaly—a rare congenital condition that causes a cleft, or slit, in the cerebral hemisphere. His involvement affects the right side of his body, and he is also legally blind in his left eye. Depending on the time of year, he receives occupational, physical, and speech therapy. His mother has worked incredibly hard to encourage use of his right arm and hand—and it shows. He is a wonderful co-instructor for demonstrating higher-level skills in individuals with hemiplegia. 🎯 What You’ll See in This Video • Standing with the left foot anchored on a carpet square • Stepping out with the right leg to catch a bounce pass • Stepping to the side and forward to meet the ball • Catching with two hands to encourage bilateral use • Use of verbal cueing (“1, 2, 3, step”) to improve timing • Progression ideas, including stepping across midline ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and meet Macari 👋🏽 00:24 Setup with anchored foot 00:43 Stepping out to the side 01:34 Stepping forward to catch 02:05 Adding timing cues 02:35 Progression ideas (across midline) 03:00 Wrap-up and key takeaway 🧠 Why This Helps This activity targets: • Weight shifting onto the involved leg • Forced use of the weaker side • Bilateral coordination of arms and legs • Timing and motor planning • Dynamic standing balance Children and young adults with hemiplegia often default to their stronger side. By controlling the setup, you can gently “take away” that option and build more symmetrical movement patterns. 💡 Practical Tips • Anchor the stronger foot to limit compensation • Start with simple directions (side or forward) • Use clear timing cues if needed (“1, 2, 3, step”) • Keep passes predictable before adding challenge • Progress to stepping across the body for increased difficulty ⚠️ Safety Note These videos are for educational purposes and are not a replacement for in-person physical therapy. Every child is unique. Please do not try these techniques if your child’s health or motor skills differ significantly from Macari’s. (I cannot provide treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated.) 🧩 Watch the entire playlist for Macari here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjNBfzp6CbvVHNQix2UN8X02 📧 Contact amysturkey@gmail.com 🌐 Website www.pediatricPTexercises.com 🪶 Accessibility Closed captions have been reviewed and corrected. To turn on captions: Click CC To change languages: ⚙️ Settings → Subtitles/CC → Choose language or Auto-translate If captions block important details, they can be toggled off in the video player. 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey (Amazon) “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