Trunk/Core stability - can chiropractors or anything else help?

[mintyfresh]

My DD struggles, amongst other things with weak trunk muscles which affects her mobility. Has anyone used a chiropractor to help with gaining muscle strength/postural control? I feel there is more I could be doing to help her - we only have a few exercises from physio and OT and we don't get much input otherwise.

How about horse riding - has anyone found this to be beneficial for strengthening core muscles?

Not got into riding yet as DGS is too young still, but all mums whose LO do have said it is incredible the way their trunks have strengthened and stabilised. We will be putting name down soon as long waiting list. I think 3 years is earliest? Later for RDA. Also sitting supported on a large gym ball, gentle rocking side to side - brilliant. Sitting on well supported trike, the excitement gives him a bit of a push to keep upright. Play 'horsie' supported riding on poor parent's aching back! Swimming - again brilliant. I think its not what you do so much as how often its done to build up the muscles. I could go on and on about seating, exercises movements etc.
skillsforaction.com/?q=low-tone-help
This link explains some of the concepts behind muscle strengthening for low tone.

Hope you get plenty of other ideas, we could always use some more!!

Riven - that is what is worrying me tbh. Her low tone is caused by brain injury and we've been told she will always have an underlying weakness in this area

beammeupscotty - thanks! I have been looking at that website for exercises too. Will get onto the local riding centre - they have a physio there apparently. We do go swimming although probably not often enough. How is your DGS getting on?

Horse riding is great for strengthening and helping with balance. My old riding school did exercise on horseback, got the children to lean forward, touch the ears, twist round and touch the tail etc. Also yoga is good if it's possible, dd used to fall over if she tried to balance on one leg but can now do a few yoga positions and it's been worthwhile. Her balance is better than it was

Combined approach is probably best imo.
We do Vojta therapy on our 3yo ds with cp.
We also do alot of functional work with him playing in various positions. Brainwave were brilliant in providing a programme for this.
We also saw an osteopath for about a year. Ds plateaued for a good while and my hope was that it would keep him supple enough for him to get the most benefit possible out of the PT and OT sessions - some things seemed like a big ask given how his posture / hips / tightness were. I kind of feel he's got past needing it now (plus there's the expense) so we don't go anymore.
That said ds has complained a lot and it's been a fine line to tread gauging whether he genuinely is too tired / stressed to do what we're asking of him, but the difference (in 18 months) has been huge and we're delighted with the results.
I guess only you can know though whether that amount of work would pay off for your dd or whether the pay-off would make it unfair.

Hello minty
You probably know how my DGS is getting on as his mummy (my daughter) is Sneezecake and I gather you communicate from time to time! He is still doing his wobbley sitting and a bit slumpy at times, but has now got a Jenx chair which keeps him sitting in an excellent position, and unable to do that aggravating arching back thing! OT said he will get tired at first in it (which he has) but is now getting used to sitting more upright - still early days yet though.

I have recently made arm supports as his elbows are weak and give way when we do the crawling action (legs are brill). I got a thick neoprene knee support and cut and made two adjustable braces connected with velcro. (pinched this off utube). He is now much more stable in the arms and we had a good assisted (by us) crawl chasing the dog today!
Crawling is fantastic for strengthening neck and back muscles so we are very keen for him to crawl.

We also have started assisted walking, prompting each leg into a walking action with Daughter holding him upright - he needs full support but the more we do these assisted actions with him the more natural they become. If you read up on it it goes something like this: movement is learning - the more an action is repeated the more solid the neural connection becomes - the movement becomes embedded and they can do the action themselves.

dd2 has been doing ballet. no idea how involved your dd is, or how old, but dd2 has been going for a couple of years (6 now) and started before she had standing balance. she still can't balance to do any one leg stuff (!) but it has definitely helped with core stability and posture (physio was in favour and keen).
also riding and swimming. we keep moving so have not yet made it to the top of a riding list, but she has now done 2 years of swimming lessons. not quite swimming independently, but getting closer (can move or breathe, but not both lol) but again, she started with a 1-1 support worker in the pool, but now only requires help for getting in and out - she copes with a normal non-swimmers class once she is in the water.

have you got a gym ball? - totally brilliant for core strengthening, but really hard work for both the dc and the helper - the hardest of all the physio i've had to do with her.

apols if these are way out of league

(dd2 athetoid cp but mostly low toned)

we used a chiro for about a year (5-6) with sessions every month. it was interesting (dd2 has a lean to one side and we were trying to straighten her up and strengthen the muscles to prevent future problems) but not definitive tbh.

beammeupscotty - hadn't put two and two together!! Makes perfect sense now - glad DGS is doing well!

Thanks for all your help and tips. Nickoftime - DD has signs of mild athetoid CP (brain injury fits with this but no dx as of yet) but also mostly low toned with slight fluctuations.

I've just got a gym ball as she is just about big enough to start using one. Horse riding will take her from age 4 which is great - physio agreed would be really beneficial for her. Can't imagine her doing ballet at this stage but definitely one to keep in mind!!

Yanny - I like the idea of Yoga think her playgroup are starting some soon although she's so bendy I can't imagine what positions she might get in