Crab Crawl

  • Improves pelvic stability, postural control and balance. This exercise improves children’s ability to mobilise stairs safely, walk, run, jump and maintain upright posture.
  • Strengthens buttocks (glutes), which is important for posture, injury prevention, running, jumping and sport.
  • Strengthens arms and shoulder stability, which supports handwriting and fine motor control.
  • Provides deep pressure proprioceptive input to muscles/joints, which can be useful for regulation (assisting children to achieve a ‘calm, alert’ state, ready for learning).
HANDOUT
PRACTISE JOURNAL
TECHNIQUE VIDEO

Uses

  • Use this exercise before entering the classroom in the morning or after breaks, as a quick sensory regulation activity.
  • This is a great exercise to do just prior to handwriting or other fine motor activities, because it activates the core and upper limb muscles. 

Instructions

  1. Sit on the floor with your knees bent and hands by your side
  2. Lift your bottom until your tummy is flat like a table
  3. Squeeze your buttocks and push your heels into the floor
  4. Hold for as long as you can (without your bottom dropping)
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Watch Points

  • Correct start position (arms by the side, not over the shoulders)
  • Right angles at the shoulders and knees
  • Bottom lifted (bottom kept up, rather than sagging)
  • Body flat like a table

Lying:

  • Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Push your feet into the floor to push your bottom up off the floor. Hold for as long as you can, breathing normally.

Seated:

  • Place your hands on the sides of your chair. Push down with your hands (and also with your legs or feet if possible) to lift your bottom.

Progress Tracker

For how long can you hold the Crab Crawl position before your bottom drops down?