The document discusses the development and significance of crawling in children and patients, detailing milestones achieved prior to crawling and various crawling exercises. It emphasizes the importance of crawling for mobility, coordination, and trunk muscle strength, with specific types and techniques described. Additionally, the document highlights the role of these exercises in rehabilitation for conditions like kyphosis and scoliosis.

1. CRAWLING EXERCISE
DR. ANERI PATWARI
MPT
CARDIO-RESPIRATORY
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

2. CONTENT
• DEVELOPMENT OF CRAWLING
• MILESTONE ACHIEVED BEFORE CRAWLING
• INTRODUCTION OF CRAWLING
• PURPOSE & USES OF CRAWLING
• TYPES OF CRAWLING
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3. DEVELOPMENT OF CRAWLING
• Child tends to begin scooting forward on their belly between months of age.
• Typically child takes their first official crawling “steps” on their hands and knees with their belly
off the floor between 9-11 months of age.
• Child will tend to use crawling as their primary means of mobility for around 4-6 months.
• This may appear a straight forward process, however the preparation leading up to crawling
begins long before child ever takes those first wonderful steps on their hands and knees.
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4. MILESTONE ACHIEVED BEFORE
CRAWLING
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5. 0-2 MONTHS
lays on his/her back, bends and
straightens legs together or
alternately
Can roll onto back from the
right and left side of his/her
body
Is bending and straightening
arms together or alternately
When holding child in a
standing positon they can
weight bear through legs by
bending of the knees and
having feet flat on the ground
Child is able to raise head and
upper body 45 degrees when
lying on tummy by weight
bearing through the forearms or
hands.
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6. 2-5 MONTHS
Child can maintain head
and body posture in
midline and can bring
both hands to midline
when lying on their back.
Raises head and upper
body 45 degrees, weight
bearing through forearms
to see objects.
Can bring both feet to
mouth when lying on
back during play.
Can roll from lying on
his/her back to left or
right side with opposing
arm crossing the middle
of their body.
Lying on tummy, can
stretch out arms or legs
together or alternately off
ground.
Can lift arms and legs
together or change
between the two
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7. 5-8 MONTHS
When lying on tummy child can
raise upper trunk and move his/her
weight to one side and can reach
out with arm for a toy.
Can reach out for feet their and
hold them.
From lying on tummy he/she can
raise head and tummy by weight
bearing through hands.
Can shift own weight from lying on
his/her back to one side. Uses one
arm to support body and the
stretching the other out for a toy/
person/ object.
Can roll from back to tummy,
pushing forward with lower body,
followed by the tummy and the
shoulders.
Scoots forward on their tummy
using their arms.
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8. INTRODUCTION
• This may be regarded as movement in a position and it is such an important and useful activity.
• When balance and stability in prone kneeling have been established patients can being to practise
lifting a hand or knee from floor to balance on ‘three legs’.
• This makes in possible for the crawling movement to take place in any chosen direction as
weight free limb can be lifted and replaced in a new position before taking weight once more.
• These are given mainly for the :
• A) mobilization of trunk
• B) co-ordination of movement
• C) improvement of endurance
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9. INTRODUCTION
• When resistance is given , it also important the power of trunk muscles.
• All these crawling exercise are given in various starting position and they have different effects.
• All these different crawling may be performed with music.
• Manual resistance can be given around the shoulder and the knees depending on the muscle to be
strengthen.
• Flat pad may be used to protect the knees from undue pressure. Introduction
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10. PURPOSE AND USES
• Crawling activities built up co-ordination at whole body including reciprocal movement of arms
and legs as required in walking.
• The spine is weight free in horizontal movement, the potential rom in the joint increased so
crawling is useful for the spine mobilization, also helps in learning control of excessive mobility.
• A measure of weight bearing on arms and legs stimulates activities in the region of this joint
approximation. This can continue in retaining the functions of limb.
• Crawling provides safe and effective means of moving from one area of room to another area of
room for those who has very poor balance in erect position.
• Patient should be instructed properly which and where limb should be moved during practice.
• Rest period is given by allowing patient to sit.
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11. TYPES
Dog’s crawl
Low dog’s
crawl
Arm stretch
crawl
Leg shift
crawl
Low ‘s’
crawl
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12. DOG CRAWL
Starting
position
“Prone
kneeling”
Technique :
From the
prone
kneeling the
whole spine
is bend
laterally by
moving
opposite
hand and
knee
forwards.
The knee is
bend that is
side flexed
to the side
of the
forward
knee, so
that the ear
touches to
the shoulder
on that side.
The hip
joint is
medially
rotated , so
that lower
leg project
sideways
The lateral
bending is
reversed by
moving
opposite
hand and
knee
forward.
Movement
on one side
only can be
produced
by return to
the starting
position.
By
continuousl
y using
same hand
and knee ,
you will
travel in a
circle
bending
always
forwards
the centre
of circle.
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13. LOW DOG CRAWL
Starting
position :
“Inclined Prone
kneeling”
Technique :
The starting
position is
taken with the
thighs vertical
,the arms
abducted in line
with the
shoulder and
with flexed of
elbow.
The chest is
pressed to
ground and
head will be
lifted.
One knee is
moved forward
and the spine is
bend to the side
by lifting the
hands.
The hand is
bend sideways
as dog’s crawl
The progression
is made by
moving other
forward or you
can start again
by returning to
starting
position.
Emphasis must
be given on
smooth
rhythmic
movement on
keeping the
chest wall
pressed on the
floor
throughout.
This exercise is
more difficult in
comparison
with dog’s
crawl
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14. ARM STRETCH CRAWL(FOR KYPHOSIS)
Starting
position :
“Stretch stoop
kneeling”
Technique :
The chest is
well pressed to
the ground.
The thighs are
vertical
throughout the
movement.
The patient
moves forward
by taking small
steps with the
knee and sliding
the hands
forwards along
the ground.
The crawl is
used –Increases
extension of
thoracic spine -
For the
correction of
kyphosis -To
strengthen the
upper back
muscle.
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15. LEG SHIFT CRAWL
Starting position :
“Inclined prone kneeling” similar
or in low dog’s crawl that is
inclined prone kneeling but the
effect of this exercise is like arm
stretch crawl or even stronger than
it.
Technique :
One knee is moved forward , the
arms are moved forward from the
shoulder then one leg is lifted in
line with trunk
This position is held for a moment
and then the leg is lowered and the
knee is about and brought forward.
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16. LOW ‘S’ CRAWL(FOR SCOLIOSIS)
Starting position
: “Inclined prone
kneeling” This
crawl is designed
to straighten the
spine in case of the
scoliosis by strong
contraction of
muscle on convex
side and by
stretching the
muscles of the
concave side
Technique :
From the inclined
prone kneeling
position , the arm
on the side of
concavity on the
thoracic curve is
stretched forward
and the leg on the
side of the lumber
concavity is
stretched
backward.
The thigh of
supporting limb
remains verticle
throughout on the
patient to stretch
arm and leg.
The extended knee
is bent and more
forward and
opposite side arm
return to the
starting position
A short step
forward is taken
with the opposite
hand and knee ,
the movement is
repeated.
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17. REFERENCE
• PRACTICAL EXERCISE THERAPY MARGARET HOLLIS 4TH EDITION
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