Eating for two

Do You Need to Talk to a Paediatric Physiotherapist?

23 July 2021

Louis Stone

Are you concerned about your child's movement skills? Do they tend to have their feet turned in all of the time? Maybe they appear uncoordinated, have an unusual walking pattern or seem to be generally clumsy. If you have noticed any of these movement-related problems, paediatric physiotherapy could be the answer that you need. Alternatively, perhaps, your child has been involved in an accident that has left them with movement issues or struggling to regain the skills they previously had. For all of these concerns, a paediatric physiotherapy professional can provide valuable assistance that can help your child progress.  

What is paediatric physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is something that can be beneficial at any stage of life, so you may be wondering why you should take your child to a paediatric physiotherapist rather than a general physiotherapist. While any physiotherapist can help with managing movement and treating mobility issues, there are many reasons to choose an expert in paediatric physiotherapy. A paediatric physiotherapist will have particular knowledge about how certain conditions can affect the physical development of children and how to treat children at every stage of their development. They will know the most age-appropriate treatment for your child, whether they are a newborn baby or a teenager.

How does paediatric physiotherapy work?

When you attend your first paediatric physiotherapy session, the physiotherapist will probably start with an assessment to see exactly what issues your child is facing. Correctly identifying the problem is the first stage in developing a treatment regime that will enable your child to maximize their movement potential. A paediatric physiotherapist will try to improve your child's motor development, endurance, range of motion and overall strength. They will look at balance, gait, coordination and consider problems such as lung and heart endurance. Over time, they will work with you to develop goals and continually evaluate progress towards those goals.

What treatment options could be suggested?

Paediatric physiotherapy treatment will always be specific to the particular challenges faced by your child. The physiotherapist could produce a list of exercises for the child to practice or work with them on splinting and positioning or gait retraining. They might suggest neurodevelopmental therapy, cardiorespiratory intervention or an entirely different approach. If needed, a physiotherapist can recommend involving other specialists in the treatment if they feel that input from other experts would be beneficial to your child's progress.

Whatever concerns you may have, a paediatric physiotherapist could provide the help you need.

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