Which school-based service is most closely associated with addressing mobility or gross motor skills?

Which school-based service is most closely associated with addressing mobility or gross motor skills?

• A. Reading intervention
• B. Math remediation
• C. Physical therapy
• D. Speech-language pathology

Answer: (C)

Mobility and the use of large muscle movements are the kinds of skills physical therapy focuses on in schools. Physical therapy helps students improve movement, balance, coordination, and overall strength so they can move around the classroom, participate in physical education, navigate stairs or hallways, and perform classroom tasks more independently. These interventions are designed to reduce barriers to learning caused by motor impairments, and can include gait training, transfer practice, posture and trunk control, balance activities, endurance building, and the use of any needed assistive devices. Reading intervention and math remediation target academic skills, not motor function, while speech-language pathology focuses on communication and related areas. Occupational therapy often covers fine motor skills and self-care, but when the main issue is large-motor movement and mobility, physical therapy is the most closely aligned service.

Mobility and the use of large muscle movements are the kinds of skills physical therapy focuses on in schools. Physical therapy helps students improve movement, balance, coordination, and overall strength so they can move around the classroom, participate in physical education, navigate stairs or hallways, and perform classroom tasks more independently. These interventions are designed to reduce barriers to learning caused by motor impairments, and can include gait training, transfer practice, posture and trunk control, balance activities, endurance building, and the use of any needed assistive devices.

Reading intervention and math remediation target academic skills, not motor function, while speech-language pathology focuses on communication and related areas. Occupational therapy often covers fine motor skills and self-care, but when the main issue is large-motor movement and mobility, physical therapy is the most closely aligned service.