2024 ROCKY MOUNTAIN ANNUAL CONFERENCE & PT EXPO

The goals of this presentation are to introduce the concept of physical literacy including differentiating between physical activity, fitness, and literacy and discuss the relevance to the pediatric population in the state of Colorado. We will review methods in which patients, particularly pediatric patients, learn movement patterns, motor control, and strengthening activities. This will include background on long-term athletic development and motor-learning principles throughout youth development. The current state of youth sports and the problems with sports specialization will also be discussed. We will suggest specific examples and methods to improve physical literacy throughout Physical Therapy practice. We will also educate on the prevalence of inactivity in the United States and provide tools to address inactivity in the pediatric population as well as education for improvements in clinical practice and educational opportunities for therapists to use for patients and families.