Standing Balance Made Easier: Try a Hoop! | Pediatric Physical Therapy #96

Helping a Young Child with Down Syndrome —Standing Balance Inside a Hoop (Everett, age 2y 3m) | Pediatric Physical Therapy (PT) with Amy Sturkey @pediatricPTexercises Thank you to Everett’s family for welcoming me back to share his progress! Everett 🧑🏻‍🦰 has Down syndrome, was born almost 2 months premature, had corrective heart surgery ❤️‍🩹, and has a G-tube. In this session (Everett is 2 years 3 months), I demonstrate how I challenge his standing balance by having him stand inside a lightweight hoop while holding onto it — instead of relying on me or furniture. ✋🏼⭕💪🏽 What you’ll see in this video Everett can pull to stand and lean on furniture, but he is not yet taking steps. To help prepare him for walking, he needs practice balancing while moving, not just standing still. In this video, I place Everett inside a small hoop and let him hold onto the front of the hoop while I control it from the outside. Because I guide the hoop, I can easily adjust the challenge: • Keep it steady ➟ easier • Move it forward, back, or side-to-side ➟ harder • Add gentle bouncing ➟ harder • Step farther away ➟ increased lean and balance demand The hoop gives him a helpful cue at the front and the back to support more upright posture while activating his balance reactions. Why this helps 🌟 This activity helps develop: • Balance reactions and postural control ⚖️ • Confidence standing without leaning on an adult 🙌🏾 • Weight shifting and ankle stability 🦶🏼 • Trunk activation and early walking readiness 💪🏼 • Standing endurance while staying engaged 🎥 Practical tips for parents & therapists • Choose a very lightweight hoop and place your child inside it. • Have the child hold the hoop while you support and guide it lightly. • Move forward–back, side-to-side, or in gentle circles to activate balance. • Fade your physical involvement gradually. • Avoid having the child rely only on your hands — it builds dependence. • Practice on a safe, non-slip surface. ⚠️ IMPORTANT These videos are educational and are not a replacement for in-person pediatric physical therapy. Every child is unique. Do not try these techniques with your child if they have different medical risk factors, abilities, or diagnoses than Everett. I cannot provide individualized treatment for a child I have not evaluated in person. For specific recommendations, please consult a local pediatric therapist. 📺 Watch more of Everett’s progress (playlist): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjPqgM4rbEV8G1bMdC1Dyzaw 📬 Contact / More info Email: amysturkey@gmail.com Website: https://www.pediatricPTexercises.com 📚 Books — Children’s Educational Books (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 (Amazon) 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 🧏🏽‍♀️ Captions / Accessibility I reviewed and corrected the closed captions for this video. To turn on captions: click CC on the video player. To change caption language: Settings (⚙️) → Subtitles/CC → select language or Auto-translate. 🔔 Subscribe & notifications Subscribe to @pediatricPTexercises and tap the 🔔 to get notified when new pediatric PT videos are posted. Short reminder I cannot give individualized treatment suggestions for a child I have not personally evaluated. If you need specific help, contact a licensed pediatric physical therapist near you. 📍 Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Everett (2y 3m, Down syndrome) 00:21 – Why he needs balance practice 00:28 – Using a hoop to challenge standing balance ⭕ 00:47 – Making the activity harder or easier 01:16 – Moving to activate muscles 01:37 – Tips for home practice 01:53 – Closing thoughts + subscribe reminder 🔔 *a Freepik image was used on the background of the Thumbnail for this video