What is the amphibious position?
This is nothing more than an active lateral position. It is an important movement pattern, indicative of good body control and correct trunk muscle work. When parents ask me why it is so important, I often explain to them that if it appears, it is a signal that the child will soon sit up 🙂
And what exactly does this position look like?
🔹The child lies on his/her side.
🔹The leg the child is lying on is straight and the other leg is bent so that the child's foot rests on the ground.
🔹The bottom handle actively pushes into the ground, the other is free - the child can reach into the toy with it.
🔹The trunk on the loaded side is elongated and on the unloaded side is shortened.
🔹Head actively raised.
When can we expect this activity in our toddler?
It usually appears around 7 months of age - at a similar time, a little earlier at around 6 months, we can also observe pivots, i.e. rotations around the baby's navel axis. Contrary to what you may think, this is not an easy activity for the baby and not every baby is eager to perform it. In order for the baby to be able to play in the active side position, he must be adequately prepared for it.
The toddler must demonstrate:
🔹The cooperation of the muscles of the anterior and posterior trunk wall.
🔹Stable (lowered) shoulder rim.
🔹The ability to rotate in the trunk.
🔹The ability to lengthen the loaded and shorten the relieved side of the trunk.
🔹Properly developed balance reactions and thus the ability to balance the trunk.
🔹Motor planning skills.
What does the child gain from the amphibious position?
🔹 Practises correct shortening and lengthening of the sides of the trunk.
🔹Improves the work of the deep muscles of the torso.
🔹Prepares the child to crawl and quaddle.
🔹Allows independent transition to sitting position or entry into a quadriplegic position.
How do you encourage your child in the amphibious position?
1️⃣Połóż baby on the side.
2️⃣Jedną place the leg freely under the torso to lengthen the lower lying side.
Position 3️⃣Stopę of the upper leg in front of the torso, at the level of the knee of the lower leg.
4️⃣Przytrzymaj the child for a while in this position, the child should balance his or her body by keeping his or her balance, which is a difficult task in the position on the side.
From the amphibious position, the child pushes off the ground with the elbow, then moves to palm support! In this way he achieves the sit with support. In the next stage of development, he will learn the unsupported sit.
It is important to observe whether the amphibious position appears symmetrically, i.e. on the right and on the left side. A unilateral amphibious position can indicate, among other things, asymmetry, in which case it is worth consulting our little one with a physiotherapist. If the asymmetry persists, it can lead to scoliosis in the child's further development.
Do you have any doubts about whether your child is performing the amphibious position correctly, or do you want to support your child in achieving the active lateral position ? Our physiotherapists will be happy to help 🙂 They will be happy to show you, among other things, how to play with your child, what to pay attention to and show you what baby-friendly care is all about.
About the Author:
- NDT Bobath,
- tri-plane foot therapy,
- PNF in paediatrics,
- manual therapy,
- kinesiology taping
