Pediatric Physical Therapy
“Isn’t physical therapy just for athletes and adults in recovery?” Nope! Sometimes, children and even babies need physical therapy, too. You might not give a second thought to walking up the stairs or picking up a drink. But for a child with an injury or delay in development, those simple tasks can be a real challenge. Typically, pediatric PTs treat kids under 18, from newborns to teenagers. They see children for a variety of different reasons, including bone/muscle issues, sports-related injuries, or genetic, brain, spine, or nerve disorders. Pediatric physical therapists know the profound joy of helping children and their families achieve greater happiness under challenging circumstances. Ever since their field of medicine was born during the polio epidemic of the 1920s, pediatric physical therapists have relied upon an impressive array of techniques to treat musculoskeletal problems and improve the mobility of children facing numerous health conditions.Pediatric physical therapists (PTs) work with children and their families to assist each child in reaching their maximum potential to function independently and to promote active participation in home, school, and community environments. Physical therapists have expertise in movement, motor development, and body function (eg, strength and endurance).
They apply clinical reasoning during examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention for children, youth, and young adults. Having broadened their patient population significantly through the decades, pediatric physical therapists successfully treat patients using an extensive set of skills and techniques that include:
- Manual manipulation and other physical therapy techniques
- Breathing training and motor learning
- Developmental, recreational and play “therapy”
- Adaptation of daily care activities to a child’s special needs
- Designing, fitting and using assistive technology, orthotics and prosthetics
- Burn and wound care