From post-op to pre-school, birth through the golden years, almost everyone can benefit from Aquatic PT!

My name is Kristin and I am the aquatic lead here at First Step. I love the water! I’m super excited to have the chance to share the benefits of water with you all.

One of my greatest joys in being a pediatric physical therapist is helping little ones learn to thrive through the power of movement. Teaching a little one to reach their arms, kick their legs, roll around, and move themselves from one place to another can be so crucial for empowering little ones to learn to explore the world around them and build connections with others.

The number of baby products out there on the market can be overwhelming. As a pediatric physical therapist, I look at products through the lens of how it might impact physical development and attainment of motor skills. As a mom, I look for products that are practical, easy to clean, and easily portable from my place to my parents’ place when they watch my little guy.

Children with autism are often delayed in their gross motor development and have difficulty with motor planning, balance, and coordination. However, many preschoolers with autism are able to run, jump, and climb on play structures, which can sometimes cause their gross motor deficits to be overlooked.

Pediatric PTs often see children with longer-term disabilities. Plans of care can last for months or years, making it even more crucial that your child works with a PT you love and trust who uses evidence-based care.

Summer is the perfect time to go outside and enjoy nature in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. While we still have a long ways to go as a community to make the outdoors more accessible for all, we are fortunate in the Seattle-area to have a number of trails and walkways that are accessible for all of our friends.

While small private practice clinics may not have all the fancy equipment and specialized programs that many larger corporations offer, seeing a healthcare provider in a locally owned private practice clinic can have many other perks that larger corporations are not able to offer.

One of the first exercises that a PT might start with for treating torticollis is incorporating more tummy time, which can help with strengthening baby’s neck, trunk, and shoulders, and can help stretch out some of the tightness that goes along with torticollis. It is generally recommended that little ones get at least an hour total of tummy time each day, but tummy time can be more challenging for some little ones than others.

It is so important that little ones with torticollis are treated early, but sometimes that first physical therapy evaluation can be a little intimidating when children are so young and everything is still so new. Finding the right PT can really help with navigating the complexities of the diagnosis and empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to care for your little one. Here’s what you can expect during a torticollis evaluation.

As a pediatric PT who has worked in both the schools and clinics, I frequently receive questions on the difference between the two settings and why their child might receive services in one setting versus the other. What are the differences?

While many of us understand the benefits of physical activity and exercise, adding in yet another activity can seem daunting to busy families when schedules are already hectic and full. Learn how to incorporate physical activity into routines that your family already has!

“Growing pains” are generally thought to be an uncomfortable, but unavoidable fact of life that children will grow out of, but should they always be ignored? When is it a sign of a more serious problem? And when should you consult a PT or pediatrician about your concerns? Learn more!

In Washington state, all public school students will be offered hybrid learning options for grades K-6 by April 5th and grades 7-12 by April 19th. For many of our students, this may be the first time in almost a year that they have needed to wear a backpack! Here are some helpful tips and reminders for safe backpack use for our little students.

In pediatrics, out-toeing is a less common concern than in-toeing, but it is still a gait deviation found in many young children.

When children first begin to walk, they will experiment with all sorts of funky positions for their feet and legs as they learn to maintain their own balance while taking their first steps. During years when they are first learning to walk, a small amount of in-toeing or out-toeing can be completely normal. Learn more!

W-sitting is a common way that children (especially preschoolers) choose to sit on the floor, and is often a very normal and typical position for children to sit in and transition in and out of. However, W-sitting can be problematic if it is the only position they use to sit on the floor or more than 75% of the time. Learn more!

Children’s leg alignment can be a common concern for parents, as children sometimes appear “bow-legged” or “knock-kneed” during the early stages of development. However, these are often normal aspects of the developmental process depending on age, stage, and degree. Follow along to learn more!

You might think that treating a child is just like treating a small adult, but pediatric physical therapy for children is actually more complex than using the same treatments with smaller bones, muscles, and joints! Let’s dive into why this is.