National Physical Therapy Month

Articles

Oct 1

The Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapists states that,

“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.”

— PediatricPTA.org

October is National Physical Therapy Month, where we take time to focus on all the ways physical therapy is beneficial for kids. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants help people of all ages manage their physical activity in a safe, healthy, and effective way to maximize their independence. You can think of physical therapists as experts in movement of the human body, and with children, they can have a positive impact on their development.

Pediatric physical therapists provide evaluation, intervention, and family-centered home programs in the following areas:

Gross motor development
Muscle tone and strength
Posture and body alignment
Head/neck posture
Torticollis
Balance and stability
Pre-gait and gait training
Locomotion patterns (walking, running etc.)
Gross motor coordination
Neuromuscular function
Endurance
Safety
Orthotics/bracing referrals

Are Pediatric Physical Therapists Licensed?

To become a physical therapists, individuals must complete coursework through an accredited educational program along with the guidelines of their state’s licensure requirements. In addition to the initial course of study, many physical therapists develop their specialities further with continuing education and advanced academic degrees.

How Does Physical Therapy Help Kids?

Kids engage in physical therapy to improve their ability to perform activities and everyday tasks. Pediatric physical therapists can help develop their range of motion and overall body movement along with building strength and musculature, flexibility, or correct any patterns of movement.

Usually kids who have exhibited a delay in their expected developmental milestones will be referred to a pediatric physical therapist. Whether these delays occur in early development such as in infancy or later on in development as a toddler or even teen. As with adults, injury is also a common cause for necessitating physical therapy for kids.

What Conditions Can Physical Therapy Help With?

Although kids may require physical therapy due to developmental delay or injury, there are conditions or disorders that can benefit from physical therapy:

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Issues with coordination can occur in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Sometimes they may experience a delay in their development of movement such as controlling their posture, balance, or hand-eye coordination. Physical therapists can help them develop their skills to their maximum potential to take part in the activities they enjoy.

Cerebral Palsy

A treatment plan over time is how a pediatric physical therapist can address patients with cerebral palsy. As a child grows, their physical development changes and patterns of movement also change. Physical therapy can help focus on the specific needs of your child and plan for your child’s maximum independence.

Childhood Cancer

If a child is undergoing treatment for cancer, it is critical that they do everything they can to maintain strength throughout the process. Pediatric physical therapists work to help kids with cancer develop their strength and movement along with implementing methods of reducing pain overall during recovery.

Down Syndrome

Children with Down Syndrome typically have low muscle tone, which can present problems in the future. Pediatric physical therapists can help kids develop their strength in a healthy way and help them develop independence in the activities of their daily life.

Infant Prematurity

When infants are born early or are born small, their risk of developing health problems increases. Pediatric physical therapists can be of great help to new mothers with premature babies. They can help determine the safest way to hold, feed, or position your baby for sleep in addition to helping develop a plan to address any physical development issues over time. Seeking treatment can help identify any issues early on and prevent lack of development later on.

Muscular Dystrophy

Progression and age of children with muscular dystrophy will determine a physical therapist’s treatment plan. Muscle weakness can be a common attribute of muscular dystrophy and a pediatric physical therapist can address joint or muscle issues and identify weakness. Identifying these areas as early as possible can help reduce the chance of problems in development or deformities from occurring.

Learning Through Play

Although physical therapy can be difficult and sometimes hard work for kids to accomplish, it can also be fun! Pediatric physical therapists will often use techniques that incorporate play into the treatment. By developing fun activities and games, physical therapy can accomplish the goals of the treatment plan while providing something positive for kids to associate with it. Play can be used to work on coordination skills, gross motor movement, balance, and develop muscles.

How to Find Physical Therapy for Your Child

If you feel like your child is experiencing a delay in their development or has a delay in typical milestones in development, you can seek out the advice of your medical professionals. Your child’s doctor can assess the stages of development and physical abilities of your child to determine whether physical therapy could help.

For patients located in the Southern or Northern Nevada regions, Oregon, or Hawaii, pediatric physical therapy services are available for kids in their natural environment. Tilton’s Therapy for Tots has a team of incredible pediatric physical therapists able to provide a treatment plan infants, children, and young adults in need of therapeutic intervention.

Visit our patient registration information to learn more about how you can get started with our team.