DMI Therapy by Condition
DMI is used with children whose motor development is delayed, across a range of underlying diagnoses. The details differ — what DMI targets, what precautions apply, and what's realistic to expect all depend on why your child's development is delayed. Find your child's situation below, or start with the general guide if you don't have a diagnosis yet.
Cerebral Palsy
The diagnosis DMI practitioners work with most often. Covers what the first completed clinical trial studied, what it means for children at GMFCS IV and V, how DMI compares to Bobath and NDT, and CP-specific safety precautions.
Read the CP guideDown Syndrome
Realistic motor milestone timelines, why atlantoaxial instability matters before any hands-on therapy, and the additional precautions that come with congenital heart disease and sleep apnea.
Read the Down syndrome guideHypotonia (Low Muscle Tone)
Why low muscle tone is a finding rather than a diagnosis, the warning signs that mean you should seek a medical workup before starting therapy, and how central and peripheral causes differ.
Read the hypotonia guideGlobal Developmental Delay
What the diagnosis actually means, why it calls for a diagnostic workup, and — importantly — which of your child's delays DMI can and cannot address.
Read the GDD guidePrematurity and NICU Graduates
How to measure development using corrected age, how cerebral palsy can now be detected before 6 months, and the medical precautions that follow a premature baby home.
Read the prematurity guideDon't have a diagnosis yet?
That's common, and it doesn't stop you from getting help. If your child's motor development seems delayed and no one has explained why, two things are worth doing at the same time.
First, pursue an evaluation. If your child is under three, the Idaho Infant Toddler Program provides free evaluation and early intervention services. Ask your pediatrician about a referral to pediatric neurology, genetics, or developmental pediatrics if there's no explanation for the delay.
Second, read the hypotonia guide even if no one has used that word. It covers the warning signs that mean a workup should come before therapy, and those apply regardless of what label your child eventually receives.
Other conditions DMI is used for
This site covers the five most common situations in detail, but DMI's guidance lists others, including genetic and chromosomal disorders, acquired brain injury, and spinal cord lesions. The general principles are the same: DMI targets automatic postural responses and progress toward motor milestones, and it works alongside your child's existing therapy rather than replacing it.
One condition where DMI cannot be used
DMI states plainly that it "cannot be used with children with OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) or any other brittle bone conditions." If your child has a brittle bone condition, DMI is not an option, and any provider offering it should be able to tell you that themselves.