Weak Leg? Watch This Easy-to-Hard Balance Progression 👨🏽‍🦱⚖️ | Hemiplegic CP PT #7

🧩 Watch the entire playlist for Macari here:    • Pediatric Physical Therapy for Hemiplegic ...   👋🏽 Hi, I’m Amy Sturkey, a retired pediatric physical therapist with over 35 years of experience. One of the most important skills for walking, sports, and daily activities is the ability to balance on one leg. In this video, Macari practices single-leg standing while reaching to moving targets. 👨🏽‍🦱⚖️ People often assume the "unaffected" side in hemiplegia functions typically, but many individuals actually have subtle balance, coordination, and motor control challenges on both sides of the body. We begin on his easier left leg. First, he reaches for paddle handles that change position, requiring him to adjust his balance while standing on one foot. Then we make the activity harder by having him place an open hand on top of the paddles instead of grasping the handles. Finally, we switch to Macari's more involved right leg. Because this side is much more challenging, we simplify the activity and focus on maintaining balance while holding the paddle and later placing an open hand on top of it for a count of ten. 👨🏽‍🦱 Meet Macari Macari is 18 years old and has right-sided hemiplegic cerebral palsy due to schizencephaly—a rare congenital condition that causes a cleft, or slit, in the cerebral hemisphere. His involvement affects the right side of his body, and he is also legally blind in his left eye. Depending on the time of year, he receives occupational, physical, and speech therapy. His mother has worked incredibly hard to encourage use of his right arm and hand—and it shows. He is a wonderful co-instructor for demonstrating higher-level skills in individuals with hemiplegia. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and meet Macari 👋🏽 00:34 Standing on the easier left leg 01:02 Progressing to open-hand contact 01:23 Standing on the involved right leg 01:54 Open-hand balance challenge 02:06 Why the activity was modified 02:14 Wrap-up 🧠 Why This Helps This activity works on: • Single-leg balance • Weight shifting • Postural control • Motor planning • Coordination • Dynamic balance reactions One aspect I particularly like about this activity is that it demonstrates a concept therapists often discuss with hemiplegia: individuals usually do not have a completely "good" side and a completely "bad" side. Instead, they often have a better side and a more involved side. At 18 years old, a typically developing individual would generally be able to stand on one foot for 10 seconds without difficulty. Although Macari's left side is his better side, you can still see balance challenges when he is asked to stand on that leg while reaching to changing targets. His more involved right side presents an even greater challenge, requiring the activity to be simplified significantly. This progression demonstrates an important therapy principle: make the activity harder when success is possible and simplify it when the task becomes too difficult. ⚠️ Safety Note These videos are for educational purposes and are not a replacement for in-person physical therapy. Every child is unique. Please do not try these techniques if your child's health or motor skills differ significantly from Macari's. (I cannot provide treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated.) 📧 Contact [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) 🌐 Website [www.pediatricPTexercises.com](http://www.pediatricPTexercises.com) 📚 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 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” 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