Child Posture Support for Autism and ADHD | Hopeful Neuron

Posture Wellness · In clinic and online

Posture support for children with autism, ADHD and developmental differences

Posture isn’t just a habit. It’s also about the brain.

Tried telling them to stand up straight?
It rarely lasts, because most of posture is controlled automatically by the brain. When posture is poor, the brain and body may not be communicating as well as they could. That’s what we look at.

Book a free 15 minute call

In clinic in Mill Hill, London, or online · £750 a year · See what’s included

Child posture programme at Hopeful Neuron Mill Hill London

The short version

  • Posture Wellness looks at posture through the brain and nervous system as well as the body, using postural insoles, eye exercises, primitive reflex work and body exercises.
  • It’s £750 for the year, with progress reviewed every 6 weeks, in our Mill Hill clinic or online.
  • It isn’t a diagnosis, and it doesn’t replace medical or physiotherapy care. Research on these approaches is limited, so we can’t promise particular results.

Does any of this sound like your child?

These are often put down to habits, growth spurts or how a child is built, and often that’s all it is. In some children, they may be linked to how the nervous system is processing information.

  • Shoes wearing unevenly on one side
  • Head tilting consistently to one side
  • Uneven shoulders, or one hip higher
  • Toe walking
  • Slouching that reminders don’t fix
  • Back, neck or leg aches
  • Clumsiness or falling over a lot
  • Tiring quickly when sitting at a desk
  • Avoiding physical activity
See your GP, paediatrician or a paediatric physiotherapist first if your child has:
  • Toe walking that is persistent, or has started or got worse recently
  • A visible curve in the spine, or one shoulder blade sticking out
  • Pain, weakness, limping or frequent falls
  • Any loss of skills they used to have
Signs of poor posture and toe walking in children

Poor posture isn’t about effort or attitude.

Postural and movement difficulties are often reported in children with autism and ADHD. Most of posture is run automatically by the brain, the same system that handles balance and movement. To organise it, the brain relies on feedback from the feet about the ground, and from the eyes about where the horizon is.

When either is unreliable, the body compensates. That can show up in how a child holds their head, how they sit and move, and how tiring a school day feels.

“Think of it like this: the feet are the wheels and the eyes are the steering wheel. If either is misaligned, the whole car has to compensate.”

How the brain and nervous system contribute to a child's posture

Eyes and reading

How the eyes work together affects how the head and spine are held, and how tiring reading feels. If reading is a struggle, a sight test with an optometrist is a sensible first step.

Feet and balance

The feet tell the brain where the body is. When that information is off, the body above may compensate, with tripping, clumsiness or trouble sitting still.

Energy and focus

We think a body working hard to stay upright may leave less for learning and regulation. It may be one reason some children tire quickly or find it hard to concentrate.

What’s included in Posture Wellness.

The programme draws on posturology, an approach developed by orthopaedic surgeon Bernard Bricot. It runs for a year, because postural change is gradual.

  1. Postural insoles

    Not orthotics, and not meant to prop the foot into position. They’re designed to use galvanic technology and magnets to stimulate the sensors in the feet that tell the brain where the body is. Please tell us first about any medical or foot conditions, skin sensitivities or implanted medical devices.

  2. Eye exercises at home

    Short eye tracking movements, done regularly, to sharpen the visual information the brain uses to organise posture.

  3. Primitive reflex work

    Reflexes that haven’t switched off can feed tension patterns and compensations. Read our guide to primitive reflexes.

  4. Body exercises and check ins

    Tailored movement exercises build on the insoles and eye work. We review progress every 6 weeks and adjust the programme as your child grows.

What we aim for.

Every child is different, and some respond more than others. These are the changes we work towards.

  • Posture that holds without constant reminding
  • Steadier balance and coordination
  • More energy left for school and play

What families say about working with us

“Dana and Adi are a great team, incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. Even after completing the week they continued supporting us, answering any concerns with confidence and care. They always found a way to help our son and gave us the strength to do the same at home.”

Faranak Barabhuiya
London

“After implementing everything we learned at home we saw real improvement. He is calmer, his focus has improved, he’s exploring everything around the house which he wasn’t doing before, and his sleep has improved. Definitely recommended.”

Niko & Sanja Apostoloski
London · Son aged 4, autism

“Very caring and truly have your best interests at heart. Check ins from Dana help to keep you focused with working on programmes at home and they are always there with support and any extra questions. Highly recommend.”

Holly C.
UK

Questions parents ask us.

Why can't my child just try harder to stand up straight?
Because most of posture is controlled automatically by the brain, not by effort. Reminders work while a child is thinking about it, then fade. We look instead at the information the brain gets from the feet and the eyes.
What are the specialist insoles and how do they work?
They’re not standard orthotics. They’re designed to use galvanic technology and magnets to stimulate the sensors in the soles of the feet, so the brain gets clearer information about position. Research on postural insoles is limited. Please tell us about any medical or foot conditions, skin sensitivities or implanted medical devices before your child starts.
My child has autism and walks on their toes. Can this help?
Toe walking is common in autistic children and has several possible causes, including sensory preferences and tight calf muscles. Please have it checked by your GP, paediatrician or a paediatric physiotherapist first. Some families explore postural work alongside that, but we can’t say it will change toe walking for your child.
How do eye exercises affect posture?
The eyes help the brain judge balance and position. Eye tracking exercises are meant to improve that information. If your child struggles with reading or with their eyes, a sight test with an optometrist is a sensible first step.
Is this programme available remotely?
Yes. We can see your child online, post the insoles to you, and teach the eye and body exercises by video, with regular remote check ins. If we think a hands on look would help, we’ll say so.
How long does the programme run, and how much does it cost?
It’s £750 for the year, with progress reviewed every 6 weeks. Postural change is gradual. Some families notice changes within the first few months, and it varies from child to child.
Is this suitable for children with ADHD as well as autism?
It can be. Children with ADHD, autism and other developmental differences often have posture or movement difficulties, and we adapt the programme to each child. We’ll tell you honestly on the free call whether we think it’s worth trying.
Is there research behind this?
Research on postural insoles, eye exercises for posture and primitive reflex work in children is limited and mixed. Posturology, the approach we draw on, isn’t part of standard NHS care. We use it as a framework and we’re open about its limits. See our research page and the Melillo Method in the UK.
Should we see our GP or a physiotherapist first?
If you’re worried about your child’s posture, walking or pain, yes. Persistent toe walking, a curve in the spine, pain, weakness, limping or any loss of skills all need a medical check first. This programme sits alongside medical and physiotherapy care, not instead of it.

This page is general information for parents. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace advice from your GP, paediatrician, physiotherapist or other health professional.

Your child’s posture may be telling you something.

Book a free 15 minute call with Adi or Dana. Tell us what you’re noticing, and we’ll say honestly whether Posture Wellness could help, or whether to see your GP first. Then you decide.

1A Hall Lane, Mill Hill, London NW4 4TJ · Remote support worldwide · Mon to Sat 9am to 2pm

Certifications & Affiliations

Dr. Robert Melillo, Melillo Method CIES, Collège International d'Etude de la Statique IAFNR, Interdisciplinary Association of Functional Neurosciences and Rehabilitation