My DS8 can’t run

[Doggodogington]

So how has he got to this age before I realised he can’t run/jog?
In lock down we’ve all put a bit of padding on and so we have started the couch to 5k programme. We do it mostly out doors but sometimes on a treadmill when it’s rainy.
What I have noticed is that my DS8 nearly 9 doesn’t know how to run properly and I don’t know how to advise him. His feet barely leave the floor so sometimes he trips or scuffs his feet, his arms don’t go in time with his legs and quite often flail around instead of him bending them at the elbow. When he’s on the treadmill he often bumps into the side.
He’s never been sporty, he did rugby for a while but mainly he pootled around the pitch looking at his boots. If I let him he’d be sat on the settee all day so I’m thinking it’s part laziness on his behalf. I just assumed running (at least the posture part) comes naturally, if not the fitness part. He doesn’t moan about it as he knows it’s good to be healthy but if I didn’t encourage him he’d be quite happy to do no exercise at all. Has anyone noticed this type of uncoordination in a child? My DD just gets it and runs better then me.

[IveSeenThings]

My DD really couldn't run at 8 either. She couldn't jump until 7, let alone hop of skip. It was Cross Country that sorted her out, distance running taught by a distance runner, on grass not a treadmill or tarmac.
She still can't sprint for toffee, but when she runs along a field, she looks like she's in Chariots of Fire

[StatementKnickers]

He does sound dyspraxic but I find running soul-destroying as an adult, especially on a treadmill - and I do tons of other exercise and am very fit/coordinated! Must be miserable for an 8yo. Take him outside and try some games that incorporate running - tag, races, 40-40, football...

[Sirzy]

I would try and get in touch with his teacher before the end of term and ask them if they have noticed anything.

[autumnkate]

This running style is literally identical to my son, also 8. I first noticed it at his first sports day, age 4. We call it ‘the pond skater’.

I have tried to get him to run differently- told
Him to get his knees higher etc and he can do it but he says it feels weird???

He can ride a bike and swim ok. We leave him to it now. We can’t all be good at everything.

[Tolleshunt]

I see pp has suggested hyper mobility, which I was wondering about too.

[FiveToFour]

It sounds like dyspraxia to me ( both my children have dyspraxia,though it affects them very differently)
D1ngledanglers,I am amazed that anyone would diagnose a 3 year old,I strongly suspected DC 1 had dyspraxia by 6-7, but we had no diagnosis til later,there was reluctance to diagnose because of the range of development in young NT children.

[ItsSpittingEverybodyIn]

One of my ds is 6 and is like this, it's kind of like he hasn't got a proper gait, he doesn't leave the ground really. I built them an obstacle course in the garden and only when I played it back in slow motion did I see just how awkward his movements are. He tried to jump over something (low) but it was more like he sideways strode over. He can do fantastic roll overs though and a headstand so I think he's just a bad runner!

[greenestolives]

I agree with others about the possibility of dyspraxia, one of my dd's friends has it.

Is he hypermobile?

[D1ngledanglers]

@Clymene poor choice of words I admit, but it kinda sums up how I feel about the therapist who diagnosed him at 3 with dyspraxia.

[Doggodogington]

[Savingshoes]

Isn't all about balancing? So climbing and navigating around gradients and stumps etc help.
Though I used to have a school friend who ran with her knees bent. I miss her, she was so much fun.

[Clymene]

No one is labelled dyspraxic @D1ngledanglers - it's a diagnosis. But it can't be diagnosed by a teacher.

There are lots of exercises you can do to improve co-ordination - midline crossing is often quite poorly developed in children with limited motor skills and building this can help significantly. Have a google - there are lots of different activities recommended.

[Doggodogington]

He’s the youngest in his year so Sometimes I put it down to that. He can’t tie his laces, even though we’ve been over and over it with him. I’m sure he’ll be a 40yo man wearing Velcro 🤦🏽‍♀️

[Doggodogington]

@ShouldWeChangeTheBulb oh he’s so messy and unorganised. When he dressed himself....his pants are rolled, the top of his trousers are rolled inwards, tshirts are half tucked. When he eats it’s all round his face.
My DD has always been ahead of herself, perfect writing from an early age, organised, years ahead in her school test results etc so I tried not to compare them but I’ve maybe “not compared” him too much iykwim.

[Whatnametomorrow10]

My DH 47 can’t run - he isn’t an overly sporty person at all. When gyms where open he can use everything except the treadmill in run mode. We find it bizarre- when he has had to run to chase our toddlers it’s the strangest thing to observe- it was as if his legs didn’t work in sync!

[D1ngledanglers]

Please don't get carried away with dyspraxia if the teacher isn't worried.
My DS was labelled dyspraxic at 3. He now plays County level football, was early to ride a bike but his dexterity is still poor - that's him.

It sounds as though he's deconditioned after months of inactivity & wasn't sporty to begin with.
Do lots of different physical stuff with him. Video him regularly practising the same skills & see if he improves - climbing, skipping, jumping, riding a bike.
I very much doubt he'll be seen by a GP / physio any time soon so work on it yourself & video progress - then if there isn't progress you'll have lots of evidence to back you up.
Good luck!

[Craftycorvid]

It took lockdown and learning to run outdoors that finally sorted out my running ‘form’ - I’m 53. I had never realised there’s a technique to it and treadmil running is totally different. As a child (and adult) I was rubbish at catching say a ball. I have never been able to turn cartwheels etc. I’ve got better with age and practice. Your lad could just be saving energy by not picking his feet up or he could generally be struggling with coordination. Request a re-assessment?

[ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]

Could you get him a ring fit for the switch? They are great for motivating kids to get moving.
It does sound like it could be dyspraxia TBH. How is he with organising himself? Does he forget things? Is he messy?

[museumum]

I don't think the treadmill is a good example as it's just odd to be running not going anywhere.
Can you get him to run outside but not thinking about jogging/running for a length of time (which again is unnatural for a child) - just engineer a situation where he has to run quickly to grab something or chase something?

As a child i remember trying to jog with my mum and it being very hard, I could only sprint or stop, not do endurance running. Scuffing his feet and not lifting them could be an attempt to 'pace himself'.

And i've seen teenagers jogging in rugby/rowing warmups and the majority of them look awkward and gangly too.

[BogRollBOGOF]

It's taken me a while to notice some things about DS1, like being very one-sided. That's with a clearly more physical sibling for comparison too!

[Doggodogington]

Thanks, maybe the running thing is a bit too much. He seems to enjoy it but doesn’t seem to be improving. I’ll definitely be looking more into it and trying more “fun ways” to get some fitness in.

[BogRollBOGOF]

Running is not necessarily natural. It is to some, and others have to learn it.

What is he like at walking? Is that co-ordinated?
Throwing? Catchjng?
Are movements symmetrical?
Can he cross the mid-,zone e.g. opposite arms/ legs?

How is his fine motor control? Writing/ drawing?

What is his organisation and working memory like?

These are all areas that can be impacted by dyspraxia.

Alternatively, it could be that he's never really built up the muscle and co-ordination. Have a go at PE with Joe Wickes and think about what he can/ can't do.

It could be fitness.
It could be co-ordination
It could be something physical like low muscle tone.

A GP would need a bigger picture to go down the right route of referral if there is more to it than fitness.

[Doggodogington]

Dyspraxia crossed my mind a while ago with him as his fine motor skills are pretty poor but he didn’t quite tick all the boxes for it and his teacher said that he wasn’t concerned.

[picklemewalnuts]

I think you'd better ask for a physio referral. Ring GP and say you suspect some coordination problem.

How's his fine motor skills? Zips? Writing? Buttons?

Can he catch?
Kick?

Instead of the C25k try some simpler more varied things.
Just mess about and play games like simon says.
Check out what he can do and then increase it abit, but make it fun!

Hop 5 times
Do a star jump.
Bounce a ball
Balance a beanbag on your head.
Jump up and down

Etc etc.

[picklemewalnuts]

I think you'd better ask for a physio referral. Ring GP and say you suspect some coordination problem.

How's his fine motor skills? Zips? Writing? Buttons?

Can he catch?
Kick?

Instead of the C25k try some simpler more varied things.
Just mess about and play games like simon says.
Check out what he can do and then increase it abit, but make it fun!

Hop 5 times
Do a star jump.
Bounce a ball
Balance a beanbag on your head.
Jump up and down

Etc etc.