Pediatric Physiotherapy for Children’s Strength, Mobility and Developmental Progress

HOW DOES PEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY DIFFER FROM ADULT PHYSIOTHERAPY?

Pediatric physiotherapy helps children to target specific developmental milestones and motor skills that they may be behind in, or address specific pediatric conditions and diseases. The design of a Physiotherapy session for our babies, toddlers, and children will look a bit different:

• Play-based therapy – We all know how hard it can be to do our exercises, and for children doubly so! In pediatric physiotherapy, we strive to make exercises fun and challenging to keep them engaged and participating. This might employ the use of toys, turning things into games, and how to turn things at home, like stacking blocks, into a helpful exercise. 
• Focus on motor milestones – As mentioned, these milestones are crucial for tracking a child’s development. There are key periods where a child should be able to do a skill, such a sitting by 6 months. Your Physiotherapist will help you determine whether a missed milestone is a cause for concern, and guide you on how to help your child reach a milestone
• Family-centered approach – A child and their caregivers are both equally important to the care plan, and pediatric physiotherapy provides extra support to the family. Care plans will focus on both family and child’s needs. Additionally, goals and treatments will be modified based on unique requirements. Family is involved with treatment at each session and will learn how to practice at home. 

WHAT KIND OF CONDITIONS ARE TREATED IN PEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY?

Just like adults, children can experience regular musculoskeletal pains, strains and fractures.However, there are a host of conditions that tend to be much more common or unique to infancy and childhood.

DEVELOPMENTAL AND NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

• Gross motor delays
• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
• Cerebral Palsy
• Down Syndrome
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Acquired Brain Injuries or Pediatric Stroke
• Muscular Dystrophies
• Spina Bifida

MUSCULOSKELETAL ISSUES

• Torticollis 
• Toe walking
• Osgood-Schlatter
• Sports Injuries (ligament sprains, muscle strains etc)
• Growth plate fractures
• Scoliosis
• Clubfoot
• Hip Dysplasia
• Joint hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR FAMILY’S FIRST VISIT?

Our main goal during the first visit is to get a better understanding of your family’s concerns, and your child’s individual abilities and skill. Again, the session will be catered towards your child’s age, using toys and games to keep them engaged and stress-free. We recommend coming in comfortable clothes and that you have a discussion with your child ahead of time for what they can expect. 

First, a detailed conversation will occur to get a better understanding of the situation including your goals, primary concern, child’s developmental history, medical history and other injuries, daily routines, and what your child enjoys. 

Next, the physical assessment will begin. This might take the form of an obstacle course, framing different movements as games and challenges such as jumping, balancing, or different motor tasks. This will allow your physiotherapist to see how your child is moving and determine if there are any abnormalities.

Finally, the treatment plan will be formed. Your physiotherapist will discuss the findings with you and help you understand what is going on. Next, they will share their recommendations for a plan of care including length of treatment, number of sessions, and teach you what you need to know going forwards. This will include a home plan consisting of therapeutic exercises tailored to your child’s interests and needs. 

IS PEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY RIGHT FOR MY CHILD?

As a parent, we trust your judgement. You will be the first to notice if they’re not moving the same as other kids their age, or if they’re complaining of a pain that doesn’t seem to go away. It might look like they are just very “clumsy”, or fall down a lot. It can be hard to know and that’s where pediatric physiotherapy can help!

An expert like our pediatric physiotherapist Bimala at Oakville North PhysioNow and Mississauga Creditview-Bristol can answer all your questions. She has done her Master’s degree in Pediatric Physiotherapy, and has special training in a technique called neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) for pediatrics. She will listen to your concerns attentively, then perform a thorough assessment, checking the way your child moves, responds to problems, their muscle strength and mobility, their reflexes, and more. She will be able to tell you whether there is any cause for concern, and create a unique care plan for your family and child to address any issues. Early intervention is the best, catching things sooner allows a quicker response and recovery. You don’t need a formal diagnosis or a doctor’s referral to get started. Book together with your child today for a Pediatric Physiotherapy assessment and treatment!