Pediatric physical therapy helps children improve their range of motion, strength, flexibility, trunk control, balance, coordination and endurance to improve their gross motor skills. This helps them to have optimal function with their activities of daily living and move safely throughout their environment. Physical Therapy can benefit children from newborn through adolescents.
Some diagnoses include: (but not limited to)
- Torticollis
- Down Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Hypotonia
- Hydrocephalus
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Motor Coordination Disorder
- Gross Motor Delay
- Developmental Disorders
- Developmental Delay (premature infants)
Your child may benefit from PT if your baby or child:
- babies that cannot lift their head while lying on tummy
- babies that prefer to turn head only to one side
- babies that have a flat spot on their head
- babies not rolling over
- muscles feel floppy or weak
- not crawling on hands and knees
- walking on toes
- has difficulty walking or running
- gets tired quickly or seems weaker than peers while playing games
- has difficulty jumping, hopping or skipping
- “W” sits, slouches when sitting, or uses their arms to hold themselves up in sitting