WHAT IS PEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY?
Pediatric physiotherapy is effective in the management of perinatal conditions, conditions diagnosed in early childhood, and injuries sustained throughout childhood and the transition to adult care. Pediatric physiotherapy improves physical function and quality of life.1,2 Its long-term benefits are significant and include reducing disability and the need for surgery or other more costly invasive interventions resulting in a decreased burden on the future use of health care services.
Pediatric physiotherapy services treat a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions in different settings, from acute care hospitals to the community and schools. Pediatric physiotherapists assess, diagnose and treat neurological, developmental, cardiorespiratory, and orthopedic conditions in children up to 18 years of age, with a focus on improving function and increasing independence. Physiotherapy has a positive and significant impact on pulmonary function, motor control, muscle strength, and physical endurance in pediatric patients with chronic conditions such as cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
WHAT COMMON CONDITIONS ARE TREATED IN PEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY?
A pediatric physiotherapist can provide specialized physiotherapy treatment for children aged between 0 and 18 years that have difficulty with their physical development as a result of neurological and/or developmental problems. Neurological conditions can be a result of problems with the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. Babies and/or children with neurological conditions may have difficulties with their physical functions including mobility, muscle strength, range of movement, and balance.
Pediatric physiotherapists have extensive experience in a variety of neurological pediatric conditions including:
- Gross motor delay
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental Coordination Disorder
- Down Syndrome
- Spina Bifida
- Acquired Brain Injury
- Hypotonia
- Muscular Dystrophy or other neuromuscular challenges
- Torticollis/Plagiocephaly
- Other genetic disorders
- Weight challenges
- Athlete
- Stretching
- Strengthening
- Re-educating normal movement patterns
- Balance training
- Improving standing and quality of walking
- Advice and support for parents and or teachers
- Milestone development
- Working on fine and gross motor skills