Crawling on hands and knees is a vital milestone that supports coordination, strength, and sensory integration. When crawling is skipped or looks uneven, it may signal underlying strength, mobility, or motor planning concerns. Early referral to PT helps address these issues before they affect higher-level skills like walking, balance, and posture.
Key Benefits of Hands-and-Knees Crawling:
- Promotes bilateral coordination and communication between brain hemispheres
- Builds core, shoulder, hip, and spinal stability
- Enhances balance, body awareness, and sensory processing
- Develops visual tracking and depth perception
- Encourages independent exploration and cognitive growth
Common Asymmetrical or Atypical Crawling Patterns:
- Army crawling only (belly on floor, no hands-and-knees progression after 10–11 months)
- One-sided crawling (using one leg to push or scoot, other leg drags)
- “Bear crawl” (walking on hands and feet without knee contact)
- “Bunny hop” crawl (both legs move together instead of alternating)
- Scooting on bottom instead of crawling on hands and knees
- Persistent asymmetry in arm or leg use during crawling
- Not crawling or any forward movement by 12 months of age
Why Early PT Helps:
Early intervention supports symmetrical strength, motor control, and sensory development. Our team of PT’s can identify underlying causes; such as weakness, tone differences, or limited range and guide families in promoting symmetrical movement and proper crawling mechanics.
References:
- Pathways.org. How Crawling Helps Development (2024)
- OSP Children’s Therapy. Does Crawling Matter? (2023)
- PMC. Infant Locomotion and Developmental Outcomes (PMID: 4059790, 2020)