About Physical Therapy
Pediatric physical therapists (PTs) work with children and their families to assis
t each child in reaching their maximum potential to function independently and to promote active participation in home, school, and community environments. Physical therapists use their expertise in movement and apply clinical reasoning through the process of examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention. PTs also promote health and wellness in collaboration with their families and other appropriate medical, educational or developmental specialists.
PTs promotes independence, increase participation, facilitate motor development and function, improve strength and endurance, enhance learning opportunities, and ease challenges with daily caregiving.
Common skill areas that can be addressed:
- Gross motor skills (such as sitting, crawling, standing, walking, running, stair climbing, jumping, skipping, negotiating playground equipment, etc.)
- Strength training of core muscles, and arms and legs
- Endurance training for improved stamina during activities
- Improved flexibility for ability to activate and sustain muscle activity
- Balance training to decrease falls when walking, running, and while negotiating child’s everyday envrionment
- Motor coordination training to improve fluidity of movements
- Motor planning to allow child to know what to do and how to do it
- Postural control to improve efficient movement of body in space
- Ball play skills (catching, throwing, kicking a ball)
- Assessment for need of adaptive equipment such as standers, walkers, orthotics, etc.
