This document discusses different types of crawling exercises used in physiotherapy. It describes five types of crawls - dog's crawl, low dog's crawl, arm stretch crawl, leg shift crawl, and low 'S' crawl. Each type is explained, including starting position and technique. Crawling exercises are used to improve coordination, endurance, spinal mobility, and control excessive mobility. They also help build reciprocal arm and leg movement like walking. Resistance can be added and different starting positions impact the effects. Crawling provides a safe way to move for those with poor balance.

1. Nootan Physiotherapy College,
Visnagar.
Prepared By:
Dr. Nidhi Vedawala

3.  Crawling exercise were developed by Professor Klapp.
 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
 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

4. Purpose and Uses of Crawling
 Crawling activities built up co-ordination at whole body including
reciprocal movement of arms and legs as required in walking.
 Because the spine is weight free in horizontal movement, the potential
ROM in the joint increased and that is why crawling is useful for the spine
mobilization.
 It 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.

5. Types of crawling
1. Dog’s crawl
2. Low dog’s crawl
3. Arm stretch crawl
4. Leg shift crawl
5. Low ‘s’ crawl

6. Dog’s 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 continuously using same hand and knee , you will travel in
a circle bending always forwards the centre of circle.

7. Low dog’s 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. curvature of spine:
frontal view

12. curvature of spine:
sagittal view