Not Walking Yet? Try Assisted Stair Stepping for Leg Strength🧑🏻‍🦰👣 | Down Syndrome PT #117

👋🏽 Hi, I’m Amy Sturkey, a retired pediatric physical therapist with over 35 years of experience. 📺 Everett Playlist    • Pediatric Physical Therapy for a Child wit...   Thank you again to this wonderful family for welcoming me back. In this session, I’m working again with Everett 🧑🏻‍🦰, who has Down syndrome and is just days away from turning 3 years old. Everett was born almost two months premature, had corrective heart surgery, and has a G-tube. I first met him at 11½ months old and have been following his progress as he grows stronger and more mobile. Right now, Everett can pull to stand and cruise along furniture, but he is not yet walking independently. Today, I’m using the stairs to encourage early stepping. I support Everett with my hands and arms while blocking him with my knee. Then I place his stronger right foot onto the next step and wait for him to help push himself upward. To my surprise, Everett consistently joins in! 🎉 Although he still needs a great deal of assistance, he is beginning to understand the movement and actively contribute to the effort. Those repetitions are exactly what he needs to build the strength and endurance required for walking. ⏱️ Video Chapters 0:00 Meet Amy 👱🏻‍♀️ & Everett 🧑🏻‍🦰 0:14 Everett is not yet walking 0:29 Using stairs for strengthening 0:39 Placing the stronger right foot 0:50 Everett helps push up! 1:00 Repeating the movement 1:18 Why repetition matters 1:41 Building endurance for walking 1:55 Final thoughts ⭐ What you'll see • Assisted stair stepping before walking • Positioning to support the movement • Placing the stronger leg first • Everett actively pushing upward • Functional leg strengthening • Repetition to build endurance • Early walking preparation 🧠 Clinical note Children with low muscle tone often need hundreds of successful repetitions before a new motor skill becomes easier. By placing Everett's stronger right foot onto the next step, I give him the opportunity to practice pushing through that leg while experiencing success. As his strength and confidence improve, I would gradually encourage greater participation from his less-preferred side as well. The goal isn't beautiful stair climbing—it's meaningful practice that helps prepare the body for walking. 🌟 Why this matters Children 👶🏻👶🏽👶🏾 with Down syndrome often benefit from practicing functional strengthening activities instead of isolated exercises. Stairs can help develop: • Leg strength • Hip strength • Endurance • Weight shifting • Motor planning • Confidence for early walking Sometimes a child who resists walking on level ground will happily practice many repetitions on the stairs. ⚠️ IMPORTANT These videos are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for in-person pediatric physical therapy. It would be unethical for me to provide specific treatment recommendations without personally evaluating your child. 📬 Contact Email: [email protected] 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey (Amazon) "P is for Poop and Pee Accidents" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 "A is for Anxiety" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V "A is for ADHD" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR "C is for Cerebral Palsy" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP "D is for Down Syndrome" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 "A is for Autism" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB 🧠 Professional PT Books Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD