Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI)
Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI): Rewiring the Way Kids Move
Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) is a therapeutic handling technique that focuses on targeting specific, active motor responses and automatic postural responses through dynamic exercises facilitated by a trained therapist.
In simple terms, it’s all about helping your child work on skills that are just a bit higher than what they can do on their own, with the right kind of help from our therapists. This assistance changes from exercise to exercise, depending on the muscles and skills we’re focusing on. By altering the type of assistance, we change the sensory input to the nervous system, leading to the desired motor response. Plus, DMI relies on fresh, novel input and variability to ensure the gains made are carried over and generalized.
DMI promotes gross motor skills through hands-on therapy. Your therapist will facilitate and help your child through exercises to increase their strength, coordination, motor planning, body spatial awareness, and confidence. DMI challenges your child to work beyond their level of independence to increase their skills level. We use a variety of exercises, and varying input to work toward rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, and transitioning.
Who is Dynamic Movement Intervention For?
DMI is designed for children with motor delays and works best with children who weigh up to 50 pounds.
How Do We Maximize Our Child’s Potential with Dynamic Movement Intevention?
DMI works best when done in an intensive format. This means a lot of repetition and proper alignment facilitated by our skilled therapists. Such repetition helps create appropriate neural connections and “prune” those inappropriate ones. Without this repetition, when your child faces a motor challenge, their body might revert to old patterns. But through intensive therapy, your child can learn a more efficient motor pattern, giving them the ability and confidence to choose the better way. Learn more about Hummingbird’s Intensive Therapy offerings.
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Why would a therapist incorporate Dynamic Movement Intervention into my child’s sessions?
DMI can show remarkable progress at a faster rate than traditional therapy exercises. DMI is a game-changer for children as young as one month old with motor delays. Through this technique, children and families can see remarkable progress towards their goals, and much faster than with traditional therapy sessions. There are numerous ways to facilitate each movement, which translates to generalization of skills and improved carryover.
Expertise You Can Trust
Our therapists who incorporate the use of Dynamic Movement Intervention in their sessions have undergone extensive DMI training, ensuring they are well-equipped to provide the highest quality care. This rigorous training model ensures that your child receives the most effective and up-to-date therapeutic interventions.
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