Children are NOT just little adults!
Pediatric Physiotherapy is a vital component to the health and well-being of children who may have any number of conditions, both genetic, acquired or other.
Pediatric physiotherapy is the treatment and care of babies, children and young people from birth to 19 years.
Pediatric physiotherapists bring their specialist skills as physiotherapists and have additional expert knowledge and experience of child development and childhood disabilities.
What Is a Childhood Disability?
When considering childhood disability it is important to remember that one is dealing with a child and family with a disability. Disability is defined as a state of body or mind which jeopardizes full functioning throughout a significant development stage or the remainder of that person’s life.
- Defect: a structural or physiological abnormality.
- Disability: a lack or impairment of a particular capability or skill.
- Handicap: a condition or set of conditions that hinder or prevent the pursuit or achievement of desired goals.
- Congenital Conditions: These are conditions that are present at birth. It would however be misleading to imply that all congenital conditions present themselves at birth. Some are apparent, e.g Down syndrome, talipes, and major cardiac defects. Others do not reveal themselves immediately but only become apparent as the infant or child matures, e.g muscular dystrophy, neurofibromatosis, most cerebral palsy and many hearing and sight defects. This group includes intrauterine infections the outcome of which may or may not be apparent at birth, e.g cytomegalovirus, rubella and toxoplasma. Some conditions are genetically linked, e.g muscular dystrophy, and may occur in several children within the family.
- Acquired conditions: These are conditions that are acquired as a result of for example Illness- encephalitis, meningitis, juvenile chronic arthritis, dermato-myositis, neoplasm, malnutrition, poliomyelitis, etc. trauma- head injury, child abuse, road traffic or playground accidents.
Benefits of Paediatric Physiotherapy
You are probably asking yourself, what are the main benefits that come with pediatric physiotherapy? We have listed below the essentials involved, the benefits that come with it and the experience your child will get.
Physiotherapy rehabilitation is extremely important after an injury and there is no question that those who go through physiotherapy end up in much better shape in the long run and return to full activity much sooner. Oftentimes, it’s crucial for individuals who have undergone surgery or suffered an injury to receive rehabilitative physiotherapy services to regain the level of activity they had in the past. Because of this, it is very important to take any type of physiotherapy with the utmost importance.
Why Might Your Child Need Pediatric Physiotherapy?
If you’re an infant, children, or adolescents require an improvement in balance and co-ordination, functional activities of daily living, gross and fine motor skills, movement, musculoskeletal posture issues, strength and endurance, play-based learning skills, sensory issues, delayed social skills, cognitive and communication skills.
Where Does Pediatric Physiotherapy Work?
Pediatric physiotherapists may work in a variety of settings:
- Child’s home
- Schools
- Nurseries
- Clinics
- Child Development
- Centres
- Children’s Centres
- Hospitals
- Hospices
7 Conditions Treated by a Paediatric Physiotherapist
Cerebral Palsy or Other Movement Disorders
You may not have heard this, but early physiotherapy intervention for children diagnosed with a neurological condition movement disorder has been shown to improve function in young children.
Torticollis
Torticollis is a condition when your child presents with shortened neck muscles, causing your child to favour looking and prefer neck movement in one direction. This can have profound effects on skull development and if left untreated can cause facial asymmetries, skull deformities, and delays in gross motor development. Early intervention by a pediatric physiotherapist can greatly help to prevent all of the above.Sports Injuries & Orthopedic Conditions Pediatric
physiotherapists are well trained in how to treat your developing child’s musculoskeletal injuries. They can assess your child’s physical injuries and use age-appropriate interventions to ensure a safe return to sports or other activities.Posture
Pediatric physiotherapists help. With a keen eye, they can address key areas to help improve your child’s posture and alignment!Floppy or Low Tone
You have noticed that your child has a hard time keeping their head in midline, or they seem to have difficulty moving or maybe they just seem “floppy”! Your child could have low tone or hypotonia. Pediatric physiotherapists are great at evaluating tone and have proven techniques to help improve your child’s tone!Coordination
Maybe your child can’t catch a ball or skip or maybe their run just looks a bit awkward. It could be their coordination. This is an area that pediatric physiotherapists address all the time.Toe Walking
Children don’t just outgrow toe walking. As they develop their toe walking develops with them. You need a solid approach to address the toe walking and oftentimes you don’t just address the feet. Pediatric physiotherapists can help with this too!
These are all just a snapshot of what pediatric physiotherapists can treat. pediatric physiotherapists can treat just about any condition that impairs movement, balance, or coordination.
Don’t trust your child’s care to anyone but a qualified physiotherapist. Give us a call and let’s see what we can do for your child!
Pediatric physiotherapy is a special field of physiotherapy that works with children who have difficulties with their movement, function, and development due to various conditions. Pediatric physiotherapists are trained and experienced in assessing, diagnosing, and treating children from birth to 19 years of age, and they also collaborate with their families and other health care providers to ensure the best possible care for the child.
There are different types of pediatric physiotherapy, depending on the child’s needs and goals. Some of the common types are:
- Developmental physiotherapy: This type of physiotherapy helps children who have developmental delays or disorders, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida, or autism. These children may have challenges with their motor skills and milestones, such as crawling, walking, or playing. Developmental physiotherapists use various methods and tools to stimulate the child’s sensory, motor, and cognitive development, and to encourage their independence and participation in daily activities.
- Neurological physiotherapy: This type of physiotherapy supports children who have neurological conditions or injuries that affect their brain, spinal cord, or nerves, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or muscular dystrophy. These children may have problems with their movement patterns, balance, coordination, strength, and function. Neurological physiotherapists use evidence-based techniques to improve the child’s neurological recovery and rehabilitation. They also help the child and their family to cope with the emotional and social aspects of living with a neurological condition.
- Orthopedic physiotherapy: This type of physiotherapy treats children who have musculoskeletal issues or injuries that affect their bones, joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments, such as fractures, sprains, strains, scoliosis, or sports injuries. These children may experience pain, inflammation, stiffness, and swelling, and may have difficulty with their mobility, strength, flexibility, and function. Orthopedic physiotherapists use manual therapy, exercise therapy, electrotherapy, and other modalities to reduce the symptoms and restore the child’s musculoskeletal health. They also provide education and advice on injury prevention and management.
- Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy: This type of physiotherapy assists children who have cardiorespiratory conditions or diseases that affect their heart, lungs, or blood vessels, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiolitis, or congenital heart defects. These children may have trouble with their breathing and oxygenation. Cardiorespiratory physiotherapists use techniques such as chest physiotherapy (CPT), breathing exercises, coughing techniques, suctioning, oxygen therapy, and ventilation to improve the child’s lung function and oxygenation. They also monitor the child’s vital signs and provide education and support to the child and their family on how to manage their condition.
Pediatric physiotherapy can be offered in different settings such as hospitals, clinics, schools, homes, or community centers. The number and length of the sessions depend on the child’s condition and progress. Pediatric physiotherapists work closely with the child’s family and other health professionals to provide holistic and individualized care for the child.
If you think your child may benefit from pediatric physiotherapy services or if you have any questions about it please contact us at (905) 727-7879 or visit our website to book an appointment online. We are happy to help you and your child achieve your health goals!
Types of Pediatric Physiotherapy
Pediatric physiotherapy is a special field of physiotherapy that works with children who have difficulties with their movement, function, and development due to various conditions. Pediatric physiotherapists are trained and experienced in assessing, diagnosing, and treating children from birth to 19 years of age, and they also collaborate with their families and other health care providers to ensure the best possible care for the child.
There are different types of pediatric physiotherapy, depending on the child’s needs and goals. Some of the common types are:
Developmental Physiotherapy
This type of physiotherapy helps children who have developmental delays or disorders, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida, or autism. These children may have challenges with their motor skills and milestones, such as crawling, walking, or playing. Developmental physiotherapists use various methods and tools to stimulate the child’s sensory, motor, and cognitive development, and to encourage their independence and participation in daily activities.
Neurological Physiotherapy
This type of physiotherapy supports children who have neurological conditions or injuries that affect their brain, spinal cord, or nerves, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or muscular dystrophy. These children may have problems with their movement patterns, balance, coordination, strength, and function. Neurological physiotherapists use evidence-based techniques to improve the child’s neurological recovery and rehabilitation. They also help the child and their family to cope with the emotional and social aspects of living with a neurological condition.
Orthopedic Physiotherapy
This type of physiotherapy treats children who have musculoskeletal issues or injuries that affect their bones, joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments, such as fractures, sprains, strains, scoliosis, or sports injuries. These children may experience pain, inflammation, stiffness, and swelling, and may have difficulty with their mobility, strength, flexibility, and function. Orthopedic physiotherapists use manual therapy, exercise therapy, electrotherapy, and other modalities to reduce the symptoms and restore the child’s musculoskeletal health. They also provide education and advice on injury prevention and management.
Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
This type of physiotherapy assists children who have cardiorespiratory conditions or diseases that affect their heart, lungs, or blood vessels, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiolitis, or congenital heart defects. These children may have trouble with their breathing and oxygenation. Cardiorespiratory physiotherapists use techniques such as chest physiotherapy (CPT), breathing exercises, coughing techniques, suctioning, oxygen therapy, and ventilation to improve the child’s lung function and oxygenation. They also monitor the child’s vital signs and provide education and support to the child and their family on how to manage their condition.
Pediatric physiotherapy can be offered in different settings such as hospitals, clinics, schools, homes, or community centers. The number and length of the sessions depend on the child’s condition and progress. Pediatric physiotherapists work closely with the child’s family and other health professionals to provide holistic and individualized care for the child.
If you think your child may benefit from pediatric physiotherapy services or if you have any questions about it please contact us at (905) 392-7000 or visit our website to book an appointment online. We are happy to help you and your child achieve your health goals!
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