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What is
Physical Therapy? |
| Pediatric Physical Therapy is provided to children from birth to twenty-one who are experiencing functional limitations or disability due to a disorder, a disease process, or trauma. The goals of treatment are to diminish impairments and to prevent or |
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| decrease disability, while enhancing reflexes, improving tone, range of motion, and strength, as well as motor skills and functions. Treatment may be focused on improving developmental tasks, motor planning, manipulation skills, balance, and/or coordination. |
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| The child may present with difficulties with positioning, ambulation, communication, attention, cognition, and/or motor function. The Physical Therapist will: assess for range of motion, muscle tone, and strength, determine the presence or absence of developmental reflexes, and create a treatment plan to enhance motor function while decreasing the influence of any issues that would interfere with acquiring motor skills that are appropriate for your child’s age. The P.T. will develop an extensive home program, which you and any other caregivers will be able to perform in your home. |
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Your Physical Therapist will make recommendations regarding stretching and other exercises, therapeutic handling, functional activities, seating and positioning, orthotics, and assisting devices. Standardized tests might be administered to measure and monitor improvement, as well as to help identify short and long-term goals that will be customized for your child. Your Physical Therapist will be instrumental in choosing appropriate adaptive equipment for the classroom or home.
Children that would benefit from Physical Therapy have diagnoses that would include, but not be limited to: Developmental Delays due to prematurity, Neurological Disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Congenital Hypotonia, Genetic Syndromes, i.e. Down Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, Spina Bifida, Musculoskeletal Disorders, such as scoliosis, Arthrogryposis, Muscular Dystrophy, Torticollis, Club Feet, Orthopedic Injuries, Spinal Cord Injury, Autism, Cancer, or other Trauma. |
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| Common conditions a Physical Therapist
may treat include: |
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Arthrogryposis
Ataxia
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Coordination Difficulties
Delays in Gross Motor Development
Down Syndrome
Hypotonia
Hydrocephalus
Motor Planning Difficulties
Muscular Dystrophy
Musculoskeletal Impairments
Neuromotor Conditions
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)
Spina Bifida
Toe Walking
Torticollis |
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