Balance and Coordination | Occupational Therapy Adelaide

Balance and coordination are vital motor skills for navigating everyday activities like walking, running, writing, and sports. Challenges in these areas can impact tasks such as climbing stairs, catching a ball, or sitting upright. At Thrive Health Therapies, we help individuals build these skills to boost confidence, enhance independence, and fully participate at home, school, work, and in recreational activities.

Child balancing on a balance beam during an occupational therapy session at Thrive Health Therapies clinic in Findon, Adelaide

What is Balance and Coordination?

Balance refers to an individual’s ability to maintain their body’s centre of gravity within their base of support, whether stationary or in motion. It involves sensory input from the visual, vestibular (inner ear), and proprioceptive (body position) systems, which work together to help the body remain stable. For example, standing on one leg or walking along a narrow beam requires good balance.

Coordination is the ability to execute smooth, accurate, and controlled movements. This skill depends on the integration of sensory and motor systems to perform tasks that involve multiple body parts working in synchrony. Examples include throwing a ball, tying shoelaces, or even typing on a keyboard. Coordination can be fine motor (involving small movements, such as picking up small objects) or gross motor (involving larger movements, such as running or jumping).

Together, balance and coordination form the foundation for physical activities and functional tasks, allowing individuals to interact with their environment effectively.


Why is Balance and Coordination Important?

Balance and coordination are critical for many aspects of daily life, including:

  1. Physical Development: Developing balance and coordination supports gross and fine motor skill development in children, helping them achieve milestones like walking, running, and handwriting.

  2. Safety and Injury Prevention: Good balance reduces the risk of falls and injuries, particularly in children and older adults. Coordinated movements prevent strain and improper posture during physical tasks.

  3. Participation in Activities: Skills in balance and coordination enable children to join in games, sports, and playground activities, fostering social inclusion and confidence.

  4. Learning and Academics: Classroom activities often require fine motor coordination, such as cutting with scissors, writing, or manipulating objects during learning tasks. Balance also supports postural control, which is essential for maintaining focus and engagement.

  5. Functional Independence: Everyday tasks, such as dressing, cooking, or driving, depend on efficient coordination and balance. Mastery of these skills increases autonomy and quality of life.


What Might Difficulties with Balance and Coordination Look Like?

Challenges in balance and coordination can manifest in various ways, depending on the individual’s age and the severity of their difficulties. Common signs include:

  1. Gross Motor Difficulties:

    • Trouble with activities such as running, jumping, hopping, or climbing.

    • Difficulty maintaining balance during tasks like standing on one leg or walking on uneven surfaces.

    • Frequent tripping, stumbling, or falling.

  2. Fine Motor Challenges:

    • Problems with tasks that require precision, such as buttoning a shirt, tying shoelaces, or using cutlery.

    • Difficulty with handwriting, cutting, or other school-based tasks.

  3. Postural Instability:

    • Slouching or leaning during seated activities.

    • Trouble maintaining an upright posture for extended periods.

  4. Delayed Milestones:

    • In children, delays in crawling, walking, or other developmental milestones may indicate balance or coordination issues.

  5. Avoidance of Activities:

    • Reluctance to participate in physical games, sports, or playground activities.

    • Withdrawal from tasks perceived as challenging or frustrating due to poor motor skills.

  6. Sensory and Perceptual Difficulties:

    • Difficulty processing sensory input from the environment, such as judging distances or perceiving motion.

    • Overreliance on visual cues to compensate for poor vestibular or proprioceptive input.

These difficulties can affect not only physical performance but also emotional well-being, self-esteem, and social engagement.


How Do Occupational Therapists Help with Balance and Coordination Difficulties?

Occupational therapists (OTs) are skilled in assessing and addressing balance and coordination challenges. Their interventions are tailored to the individual’s needs, goals, and environment. Here’s how our OTs support individuals with these difficulties:

  1. Comprehensive Assessment:

    • OTs evaluate an individual’s motor skills, sensory processing, and overall functional abilities through standardised assessments and observations.

    • They identify the underlying causes of balance and coordination issues, such as muscle weakness, sensory integration difficulties, or developmental delays.

  2. Personalised Intervention Plans:

    • Therapy sessions are designed to target specific challenges, gradually building skills in a supportive and engaging manner.

    • Activities are often play-based for children, making therapy enjoyable and motivating.

  3. Strengthening Core and Postural Control:

    • Exercises are introduced to improve muscle strength and stability, which are essential for maintaining balance and posture.

    • Therapists may use tools like therapy balls, balance boards, or obstacle courses to engage the core muscles.

  4. Enhancing Sensory Integration:

    • Sensory integration therapy helps individuals process and respond appropriately to sensory input, which is critical for coordinated movements.

    • OTs might use activities that stimulate the vestibular and proprioceptive systems, such as swinging, jumping, or crawling through tunnels.

  5. Developing Motor Planning Skills:

    • Therapists work on improving an individual’s ability to plan, sequence, and execute movements. This can include tasks like navigating an obstacle course or completing multi-step physical activities.

  6. Fine Motor Skill Development:

    • For individuals struggling with tasks like handwriting or self-care routines, OTs use targeted activities to improve precision and control.

    • Tools like pencil grips, adaptive scissors, or weighted utensils may be introduced to aid success.

  7. Promoting Confidence and Independence:

    • Through skill-building and positive reinforcement, OTs help individuals gain confidence in their abilities.

    • Therapy is often designed to support functional independence in daily activities, such as dressing, feeding, or participating in sports.

  8. Home and School Strategies:

    • OTs collaborate with families, teachers, and caregivers to implement strategies in everyday environments.

    • Recommendations may include modifying tasks, adapting equipment, or creating structured routines to support skill development.

  9. Use of Assistive Technology:

    • Where appropriate, OTs may introduce assistive devices to support mobility, stability, or coordination during specific activities.

How We Deliver Occupational Therapy at Thrive Health Therapies

Thrive Health Therapies offers community-based, clinic-based, and telehealth occupational therapy.

  • Community-Based Services: We provide community-based occupational therapy in your home, school or kindergarten, or a location convenient to you throughout metropolitan Adelaide. Learn more about our service areas.

  • Clinic-Based Services: We provide clinic-based sessions at our Findon clinic.

  • Telehealth Services: We also offer comprehensive telehealth services, providing clients with convenient, video-based therapy consultations for those who may have difficulty travelling to our clinic or prefer the convenience of remote support.


Funding Options for Occupational Therapy

We accept a variety of funding options, making augmentative and alternative communication therapy accessible for everyone:

Why Choose Our Occupational Therapy Services?

  • No wait time: We can start working with paediatric or adult clients straight away!

  • Experienced: Our occupational therapists have extensive experience working with individuals of all ages.

  • Extensive Coverage in the community: We serve a large geographical area, providing occupational therapy services across all of metropolitan Adelaide from Gawler to Aldinga. We see clients at home, in their school or kindergarten, or at a location convenient to them.

  • Clinic space: Our Findon clinic has been specially designed to be appropriate for a wide range of presentations and disabilities.

  • Individualised care: Every client receives a personalised therapy plan based on their unique needs and goals.

  • Neuroaffirming Practice: We provide compassionate and affirming services to support and empower neurodiverse individuals.

  • Multi-Disciplinary Approach: We offer a wide range of allied health services under one roof, allowing for a holistic approach to your health.

  • NDIS Registered: We are proudly registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

  • Home Care Package (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP): We accept a variety of funding options, helping our clients access the support they need.

  • LGBTQIA+ friendly: We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, and sexualities, Our Findon clinic is a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for all LGBTQIA+ people and families.

FAQs About Balance & Coordination

If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com

Your Trusted NDIS Registered Provider in Adelaide

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for individuals with permanent and significant disabilities. As a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants. As a NDIS registered provider, we offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.

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