07/21/2025
Crawling—whether it’s in infants or used in therapy, fitness, or rehabilitation—offers a wide range of benefits. Tunnels can be a fun way to encourage crawling with our little friends!
🧠 Neurological and Developmental Benefits (especially in babies)
1. Cross-lateral brain development
• Crawling coordinates opposite sides of the body (left arm, right leg), strengthening connections between the brain’s hemispheres.
• This supports later skills like reading, writing, and coordination.
2. Visual processing
• Eye-hand coordination improves as the child looks ahead while moving.
3. Sensory integration
• Crawling engages tactile (touch), vestibular (balance), and proprioceptive (body awareness) systems.
💪 Physical Strength and Motor Skill Benefits
1. Core and shoulder strength
• Crawling builds stability and strength in the trunk and shoulder girdle—essential for posture and fine motor control.
2. Joint and muscle development
• Promotes weight-bearing through wrists, elbows, and hips, helping joint alignment and strength.
3. Balance and coordination
• Teaches the body how to shift weight effectively and balance during movement.
🧘 Therapeutic & Rehab Benefits (for kids and adults)
1. Re-trains primitive movement patterns
• Helps individuals (including those with neurological injuries) reconnect with basic motor functions.
2. Improves posture and gait
• Crawling retrains muscles to fire in the correct sequence for standing and walking.
3. Regulation and calming
• Rhythmic, repetitive movement can calm the nervous system and improve focus.
🏋️ Fitness & Functional Training Benefits
1. Full-body workout
• Engages core, shoulders, legs, and back simultaneously.
2. Injury prevention
• Builds stability and muscle balance, especially in the shoulders and hips.
3. Improves mobility and control
• Enhances overall body awareness and coordination in athletes.