When to see a pediatric PT
Pediatric PTs see patients of a wide range of ages and clinical conditions, so there are many reasons why a family may seek pediatric PT for their little one. In general, pediatric PTs help children improve their mobility skills to enhance functional independence and participation in activities at home, in school, and with their peers. In my experience, most clients come to pediatric PT to address concerns related to:
Delayed gross motor development: Pediatric PTs are experts in gross motor development and can help evaluate whether your child has a gross motor delay, assess what may be contributing to it, and recommend at-home positioning, stretching, and strengthening activities to address the problem. Stay tuned for more information about gross motor development and milestones!
Recovering from an injury: Pediatric PTs can help with rehabilitation after a fracture, sprain, or other kinds of sports injury. Equipped with a deep understanding of development, pediatric PTs are able to prescribe exercises and activities that are age-appropriate, engaging for children, and informed by pediatric biomechanics. Some bones do not finish ossifying until your early 20s, so it is crucial to keep musculoskeletal maturity in mind during therapy!
Improving mobility skills for those with neurological or other congenital conditions: Pediatric PTs can provide support for children with neurological or congenital conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and Down syndrome, to work on gross motor development, mobility, gait patterning, and other skills necessary for engaging in age-appropriate activities with others.
Other gross motor concerns such as toe walking, developmental coordination disorder, and motor difficulties arising from autism that impact a child’s ability to participate in activities with their family and peers.
Please contact us to see how PT might benefit your little one! The above list is not exhaustive and not all children who need PT will fall into these categories. Often parental intuition is reason enough to seek out physical therapy services. We would be happy to answer any of your questions to see if PT would be a good fit for your child!