Physical Therapy Indicators
Your child may need to be referred to a physical therapist if:

He/she is an infant and holds head tilted to one side and/or has trouble bringing head to midline and
maintaining midline posture.

He/she is an infant and has noticeable asymmetry of head shape.

By age 6 months:
o Child is not yet rolling
o Child is not bringing feet to hands or feet to mouth for play when lying on back

By age 8 months:
o Child is not yet sitting independently
o Child is not weight bearing through legs when held in standing position.

By age 10 months:
o Child is not yet crawling on hands and knees.
o Child is not pulling to stand, or is not weight bearing through legs when placed in standing.

By age 15 months:
o Child is not walking on his/her own.

At any time, if any of the following are noted, a physical therapy evaluation may be indicated:
o Decreased balance and/or coordination, frequent tripping or falling
o Lack of movement, or decreased motivation or disinterest to move
o Excessive crossing of legs, or “stiff” legs
o Decreased muscle tone (“floppy” appearance to trunk and/or limbs)
o Delays in attaining gross motor milestones