Core Stability
Core Stability is the ability to control the position and movement of the central portion of the body. This mainly involves the muscles in the trunk, shoulders and hips.
Core stability is needed to maintain a good posture and give a stable base to allow the arms, legs and head to move in a coordinated manner.
If your child appears to have difficulties with core stability, you could approach the school and ask that your child participates in any motor-based activities if available within school for example: Gym Trail
Gym Trail is an exciting programme delivering motor co-ordination skills and activities, targeting children with motor co-ordination difficulties. Participation aim to improve a child’s coordination and underlying postural stability and balance.
Children and young people with core stability difficulties may
- Struggle to remain upright in their seat
- Will tend to lean on walls or against other people
- Have difficulty holding postures against gravity
- Be unable to carry out many fine and/or gross motor activities successfully
- Have difficulties with activities of daily living such as dressing and undressing
- Demonstrate poor concentration and attention.
More Information
Suggested activities
The following activities will help improve the muscle strength in the shoulder, hips and trunk and therefore help improve core stability.
Children should always be supervised whilst completing these activities and, if indoors, shoes and socks should be removed.
Choose a few of activities each time to help prevent boredom and keep the activities fun.
Chair push ups
Ask the child to sit on a chair holding on to the edge of it, and then push their body up from the
seat whilst pushing down using their arms and hands only. Aim to complete 5 – 10 in a row.
Arm spirals
Ask the child to hold both arms out to the side at shoulder height, begin to circle them, starting with small circles and moving to larger circles. When the circles are as large as the child can manage,
gradually start reducing the size of the circle to finish with a small circle (approx. 10 circles in total). Start with a few arm circles aiming to get up to 10 with practice.
Wall push ups
Ask the child to face a wall standing approx. one-and-a-half arm’s lengths away. Stretch out their arms at shoulder level placing their hands flat on the wall. Encourage them to bring their face close to the wall without moving their feet and keeping their body straight. Finally straighten their arms pushing themselves away from the wall. Repeat 10 times.
Superhero
Get your child to fly like a superhero. Ask the child to lie on the floor on their tummy, with arms outstretched forwards (like a superhero). Start by encouraging them to raise their head off the ground, then their arms and head, finally their head, arms and legs at the same time until the only thing that is touching the floor is their tummy. Hold this position for up to 20 seconds if possible.
Encourage them to count as they hold this position.
Bridging
Ask the child to lie on their back, with their body in a straight line. Bend their knees up, whilst keeping their feet on the ground and keeping their arms by their sides. Encourage them to tip their pelvis backwards to flatten their lower back into the floor and finally raising their bottom off the floor keeping their heels on the floor. Hold this position for 10 seconds if possible.
Plank ( push-ups)
Get your child to lie on their tummy on the floor with their hands on the floor at shoulder height and toes on the floor. On the count of 3 have them push up on their hands to straighten their arms and lift their whole body all the way to his toes off the floor.
Crab football
Get the child to support their weight on their hands and feet in a crab position. Then they should kick a ball to a partner and back whilst maintaining this position.
Hip walking
Ask the child to sit on the floor with their legs extended and arms crossed. Then move forward by weight shifting from hip to hip whilst moving the leg forward. Keep alternating which leg moves forward.
High Kneeling
Always encourage the child to maintain a good posture in high kneeling whilst carrying out the activities.