When disease or injury impairs your child’s ability to move and function physically, physical therapy can help preserve, enhance or restore movement and range of motion. Physical therapists use a variety of methods, including:
- Strengthening, stretching and aerobic exercise
- Heat, ice and ultrasound
- Electrical stimulation
- Traction
- Taping
- Joint mobilization
- Phonophoresis/iontophoresis—technologies that deliver medicines to tissues beneath the skin
At Children’s, our approach focuses on mutually agreed-upon goals of the child, parents and physical therapy team. This collaborative effort allows our physical therapists to help children and young adults achieve optimal independence and adequate functioning at home and away.
Our physical therapists provide care and assistance for conditions such as:
- Burns
- Developmental delays
- Diabetes
- Genetic disorders
- Neuromuscular conditions
- Orthopaedic disorders
- Sports injuries
- Decreased mobility
- High-risk neonatal risk factors
Your child’s physical therapist will take a health history and perform tests to assess your child’s range of motion, muscle strength, tone and stiffness, motor skills and gait. The therapist will also determine whether there’s a need for specialized equipment.
Children’s physical therapy services are available at all three of our outpatient locations. In addition to outpatient care, our therapists also provide inpatient rehabilitation.