Pediatric physiotherapy, also known as pediatric physical therapy, is a specialized area of physical therapy focused on evaluating and treating children from infancy through adolescence who have functional limitations or disabilities due to various conditions, disorders, or diseases. This branch of physiotherapy utilizes hands-on techniques, exercises, and interventions to address functional impairments such as muscle tone, strength, coordination, balance, posture, mobility, and range of motion.

Common pediatric impairments that may benefit from physiotherapy include conditions like cerebral palsy, spina bifida, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, hypotonia, and muscular dystrophy. Children with these conditions may experience challenges such as delayed achievement of gross motor milestones, toe walking, low muscle tone, motor planning difficulties, poor core strength, tight muscles and joints, balance issues, coordination difficulties, and difficulties with various physical activities like throwing, catching, jumping, or sitting properly.

Physiotherapy sessions for children with impairments offer several benefits, including promoting independence, increasing participation in daily activities, facilitating motor development and function, improving strength and endurance, enhancing learning opportunities, and easing challenges associated with daily caregiving.

At Solace Respite Centre, pediatric physiotherapy treatment involves assessing the child’s overall motor functioning, identifying underlying difficulties, and designing an intervention program to address or improve these difficulties and enhance the child’s overall functioning. Additionally, parents are taught home management techniques to continue supporting their child’s progress outside of therapy sessions.