What it is
A short, honest summary.
- —Delayed achievement of motor milestones (rolling, sitting, crawling, walking) compared to typical ranges.
- —Causes vary — from idiopathic to genetic syndromes, prematurity, or neurological conditions.
- —Early physiotherapy supports the child's developmental trajectory regardless of underlying cause.
What families notice
The signals worth taking seriously.
- 01Not rolling by 6 months, sitting by 9 months, walking by 18 months
- 02Persistent floppy or stiff muscle tone
- 03Preferring one side of the body
- 04Difficulty with feeding or speech alongside motor delays
- 05Family concern — always worth listening to
My approach
How the work is structured.
- —Comprehensive developmental assessment.
- —Play-based therapy designed to build the next milestone, not skip ahead.
- —Parent coaching — what to do between sessions, what's worth tracking.
- —Referral to paediatric neurology where the picture suggests it.
What recovery looks like
A plain-language picture.
“Most children with developmental delay catch up substantially or fully. The work is to support that trajectory and to identify, early, where additional medical input is needed.”
FAQ
Common questions, answered briefly.
- My paediatrician says 'wait and see'. Should I?
- Sometimes that's right, sometimes not. A physiotherapy assessment is non-invasive and clarifies the picture quickly.
- How much therapy is enough?
- Less than you'd think, if parents are coached well. We aim to make the day therapeutic, not the appointment.
For clinicians
Clinical detail, assessment and evidence.
Clinical summary
The picture in clinician register.
Motor developmental delay is achievement of gross-motor milestones outside typical ranges; aetiology spans idiopathic, syndromic, prematurity-related and emerging neurological diagnoses. Physiotherapy supports the developmental trajectory regardless of cause and serves a screening function — identifying the subset whose pattern warrants further medical workup.
Terminology
Terms worth being precise about.
- Gross-motor milestone
- An age-referenced motor achievement — rolling, sitting, walking.
- Hypotonia vs hypertonia
- Low vs high resting muscle tone; each points to different causes.
- Primitive reflex persistence
- Retention of infant reflexes beyond the expected age — a red-flag sign.
- Regression
- Loss of previously acquired skills — an urgent referral indication.
Assessment & measures
What the first sessions measure.
- —A standardised developmental assessment (e.g. AIMS, PDMS).
- —Tone and reflex examination; symmetry of movement.
- —Serial milestone tracking.
Red flags
Signs that need urgent escalation.
- Loss of previously acquired skills (regression) — urgent referral.
- Marked asymmetry of movement.
- Persistent primitive reflexes or tone abnormality with other neurological signs.
Referral & MDT
When and to whom to refer.
Paediatrics or paediatric neurology where regression, dysmorphism or neurological signs are present. Early-intervention services.
Evidence
References and guideline anchors.
- Early physiotherapy and developmental trajectory — PLACEHOLDER — verify against current guidelines before launch.