What is Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Pediatric Physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that helps children with various conditions improve their physical abilities and quality of life. It can help children who have developmental disabilities, injuries, or who need assistance with recovery after surgical procedures to reach their greatest potential so that they can participate in activities at home, school, or in the community.
Some examples of skills that pediatric physical therapists can help with are:
- Enhancing the development of gross motor skills, such as crawling, walking, running, jumping, and climbing
- Improving balance, coordination, and posture
- Increasing muscle strength and endurance
- Reducing pain and inflammation
- Promoting healing and recovery from injuries or surgeries
- Preventing or correcting deformities or complications related to congenital or acquired conditions
- Educating and empowering families and caregivers to support their child’s progress
Pediatric physical therapists are highly trained professionals who work with children and their families to assess their needs, set goals, and provide individualized interventions. There are a variety of methods and tools to help children learn and practice new skills including play-based activities, exercises, stretches, and using manual or assistive devices.
How do I know if my child would benefit from Physical Therapy?
pediatrician will discuss your child’s progress with you and will give you recommendations when a child is falling behind. Pediatricians will sometimes make recommendations for Physical Therapy when progress to milestones is delayed, an injury occurs, or after surgeries.
There are also many developmental checklists that are readily available on-line so that you can track your child’s progress on your own. Developmental checklists are tools that will help you to know what skills are typically mastered for children of the same age group. As a courtesy, All for Kids Home Health has made these developmental checklists available to you by clicking the link below. Please note that these tools are not a substitute for a skilled, standardized assessment by a licensed healthcare professional.
How can I get therapy started for my child?
There are several ways to initiate occupational therapy services.
- Physician Referral – If your physician has ordered physical therapy for your child, All for Kids Home Health can schedule an in-home evaluation. The Physical Therapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan and determine a therapy schedule that works best for you.
- Self-Referral – If you think your child might benefit from occupational therapy services, you can call our intake department to get the process started. A Physical Therapist will call you to discuss your concerns and determine if an evaluation is needed. All for Kids Home Health will call the pediatrician’s office to get a referral. Once the referral is received, the Physical Therapist will complete an in-home evaluation to determine specific needs and will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan and therapy schedule.
