What is Paediatric Physiotherapy

 PAEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY

Pediatric physiotherapists help children to achieve their optimal physical development. They have specialist knowledge in the movement, development, and conditions that are likely to affect the baby and growing child and treat from 1-day-old babies to adolescents. Pediatric physiotherapists are movement experts for babies, children, and adolescents.

 

WHAT PAEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY DOES

• Paediatric physiotherapy assists in the early detection of health problems in the baby.
• Movement is an important aspect of development for babies and children. Movement allows babies and children to explore their bodies, their environment, and all the things in their world. 
• Paediatric physiotherapists work with children and their families to improve the child’s ability to move and participate in all the things they need and want to do, like playing, learning, going to school, and being part of a family and community. These therapists are specialized in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of infants, children, and adolescents with a variety of congenital, developmental, neuromuscular, skeletal, or acquired disorders/diseases. 
• Treatments focus mainly on improving gross and fine motor skills balance and coordination, strength, and endurance as well as cognitive and sensory processing/integration. The main objective is to provide children with full functionality so that they can reach their full potential, promote wellbeing and enjoy a good quality of life.

WHY IS CHILD PHYSIOTHERAPY PERFORMED/WHEN DO YOU NEED PAEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY

Children and babies with problems such as:

• Acute soft tissue injuries, such as ligament sprains and joint injuries
• Fractures
• Congenital conditions such as clubfoot
• Coordination problems
• Breathing difficulties
• Developmental conditions such as cerebral palsy
• Learning difficulties
• Developmental delays

Developmental Delay occurs when a child is developing their skills at a slower rate than other children of the same age across multiple areas of development, particularly gross and fine motor skills, speech, and language. It can be the result of conditions such as ASD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, hearing or vision irregularities, or prematurity at birth

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR KIDS

• There are considerable advantages when undergoing pediatric physical therapy that may not only benefit a child physically but mentally too. 

• Physical therapy helps children learn to successfully and independently perform gross motor skills and functional mobility skills. 

• As a child begins to successfully develop these skills, it creates a greater form of independence that helps contribute to achieving a higher sense of self-esteem. 

• Though physical therapy for children provides a safer form of development and strengthening, it is also capable of being an essential preventative measure by addressing any muscle imbalance or weakness.

 

WHEN TO SEEK A PAEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPIST:

• Babies and children who are slower to achieve their motor milestones, eg: babies who are late to learn to sit, crawl or walk

• Babies and children who are using unusual patterns to move eg: w-sitting or bottom shuffling or toe walking

• Children who are having difficulty with motor skills, such as jumping/hopping or ball skills

• Toddlers and babies who are clumsy or uncoordinated

• Children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, autism, brain injury, muscular dystrophies, or other congenital syndromes or conditions

• Babies and children with conditions affecting their bones, joints, or muscles, such as clubfoot, flat feet, overly flexible or dislocating joints, or congenital conditions such as Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, common musculoskeletal issues (eg: Sever’s Disease, patellofemoral pain)

• Children who have rheumatological and pain conditions such as arthritis, myositis, or chronic pain

• Children following an injury or trauma who require rehabilitation to get back to their best

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS PHYSICAL THERAPY?

Your child may benefit from physical therapy if:

• They are not meeting the expected developmental milestones during the first year of life (ie. rolling, sitting, standing, walking).

• They have a strong preference for turning their head to one side or using one side of their body.

• They walk up on the balls of their feet or walk in an atypical/awkward manner.

• They have difficulty keeping up with their peers during play.

• They are not able to perform the same gross motor tasks (ie. hopping, jumping, skipping) as their peers.

• They frequently trip and fall when walking.

• They complain of pain when performing gross motor tasks.

• They were injured and are not able to perform at their prior level of function.

PROCEDURE OF TREATMENT

During your child’s physiotherapy appointment we will:

• Assessment of child’s motor and overall development, using our observation, special measures, and specific hands-on assessment techniques

•    Identify what your child is doing well, what they are having difficulty with, and why they are having difficulties

• Develop a treatment program in collaboration with you and your child, which aims to address your child’s difficulties and maximize their abilities

• Prescription of specialized orthotics, splints, or equipment to support your child’s development, and referral to and/or liaison with other health professionals and support providers.

• Balance and coordination activities to improve your child’s fine muscle control

• Adaptive play to help your child work around a permanent disability

• Aquatic therapy to reduce joint impact

• Training exercises to increase strength

• Flexibility exercises for your child’s range of motion

• Heat, cold, massage, ultrasound, or electrotherapy to improve circulation around an injury

• Technical instruction to improve form and posture and avoid future injuries

WHAT DOES CHILD PHYSIOTHERAPY CONSIST OF

The therapy involves the use of a wide variety of activities that might include both, reflex locomotion therapy, respiratory massage therapy, hydrotherapy, respiratory care, etc. The activities are tailored to suit the child’s needs and goals.

Before deciding on the right treatment, a paediatric physiotherapist will evaluate the child. This will look at the child:

• Motor development
• Respiratory function
• Mobility
• Posture
• Musculoskeletal state
• Coordination Balance

The role of parents or guardians in rehabilitation is especially important since much of the therapy is based on a series of exercises that the child will have to perform at home with the help of family members.

PEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY CAN TREAT MANY CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS LIKE

• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Hypotonia-low muscle tone
• Gait irregularity
• Knock knees
• Asd 
• Cerebral palsy 
• Torticollis
• Flat feets

 WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM AT WCH

• The WCH Physical Therapy program provides family-centered care to meet the functional needs of each child. We empower children and families during therapy sessions through goal-driven treatment plans. We work with children and their families to safely transition them from skilled therapy to community programs.

• Our team is specially trained to work with kids of all ages and disabilities who may be experiencing challenges during various stages of their lifespan as a result of their chronic conditions or injury.

• Physical activity is different in children than it is in adults. Our team specializes in treatment techniques to keep kids engaged through fun and developmentally appropriate exercise and physical activities. We know how to challenge each child to optimize their growth and developmental potential.

• Many of our therapists are certified clinical specialists who specialize in everything from the medically fragile child to the high functioning athlete attempting to return to competitive play after injury. Our program is comprehensive and covers many different conditions such as:  ACL injuries, acquired or traumatic brain injuries, cancer-related complications, cerebral palsy, concussions, Down syndrome, elbow fractures, juvenile arthritis conditions, knee pain, scoliosis, torticollis, and wound care.

WHAT CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP MY CHILD IMPROVE ON

WCH pediatric physical therapists will work closely with you to identify your child’s goals. Common physical therapy goals for children include:

• Range of Motion – how far a joint can bend or straighten

• Strength – strength against gravity

• Balance – ability to maintain balance (tilting and righting responses) and to keep oneself from falling (protective responses)

• Reflexes – automatic responses were seen particularly in infants (palmar grasp, positive support, asymmetrical tonic neck reflex [ATNR], and labyrinthine)

• Posture – alignment of the body in various positions

• Tone – natural resistance in a muscle (increased tone is stiffness and decreased tone is floppiness)

BENEFITS OF PAEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY

• Physio focuses on children reaching physical milestones during key stages of development throughout childhood. 
• Individualized Physiotherapy programs assist children in developing the physical and cognitive skills required for learning and growth.
• Through early intervention therapy and a dynamic approach, Physiotherapy empowers children to reach their full physical potential.
• Post-surgical rehabilitation
• Improves posture and reflexes of child
• Make movement easier by training normal pattern of movements
• Improves gross motor skills
• Improves functional mobility
• Improves muscle imbalance and muscle strength
• Improves balance and coordination
• Improves range of motion
• Improves muscle tone
• Improved gait/gait training