Pediatric Physiotherapy
Pediatric physiotherapy can help
children below the age of 18 years with optimal physical development and can
help with the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory
disorders. Pediatric physiotherapists are trained and experienced in factors
related to movement and development that affect children. Right from newborn babies to adolescents,
pediatric physiotherapists can help with the management of perinatal
conditions, conditions, or injuries in early childhood and
during teenage years.
Pediatric physiotherapy helps with
disorders that cause movement dysfunction and motor skill issues. Some of the
common disorders that pediatric physiotherapy can help with include the
following:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Autism
- Muscular Dystrophy. Spina Bifida. Cystic Fibrosis
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Arthrogryposis
- Cardio-Pulmonary Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Over and above this, pediatric
physiotherapy can also help with orthopedic conditions such as scoliosis,
sports injuries, back pain, fractures, and orthopedic surgeries. Pediatric
physiotherapy is also useful for children who show symptoms of hypotonia and
developmental coordination disorder without a formal diagnosis.
Types of Pediatric Physiotherapy
1. Neurological Pediatric Physiotherapy
Neurological Pediatric Physiotherapy
is associated with neurological conditions and disorders that affect a child's
mobility, muscle strength, movements, or balance, and can have an overall
impact on the child's growth and development. Neurological problems include
Congenital disorders such as cerebral palsy, developmental disorders such as
ataxia and dyspraxia, head injuries, cancers of the brain and spinal cord,
diseases of the spinal cord, along with peripheral nerve injuries, and learning difficulties.
Through Neurological Pediatric Physiotherapy, it is possible to enhance the
child's capability and optimize their physical development to achieve
developmental goals such as walking, crawling, or running.
2. Respiratory Pediatric
Physiotherapy
Respiratory conditions affect the
respiratory system of children and affect their noses, throat, windpipe, or lungs. The different
conditions that Respiratory Pediatric Physiotherapy can help with include
asthma, bronchitis, chest infections, Cough, Shortness of Breath, and
cystic
fibrosis. Sometimes when babies are born premature, their lungs are not fully developed,
and this could also lead to respiratory system-related complications. In such
cases and conditions, Respiratory Pediatric physiotherapy can help with
secretion management and maintaining clear airways.
3. Developmental Pediatric
Physiotherapy
When a child is unable to achieve
certain specific developmental goals or milestones such as sitting, walking,
crawling, etc, the child is known to have development conditions. Because of
the lack of required development, the child may also have coordination
problems, could be clumsy leading to frequent falls or accidents, or poor handwriting.
Pediatric physiotherapy can help improve all these conditions and improve the
child's day-to-day functioning. Physiotherapy will help the child become
more independent and will help improve the child's posture, muscle strength,
balance, coordination, and the child's level of confidence
and independence in day-to-day tasks.
4. Learning difficulties Pediatric
Physiotherapy:
Learning difficulties are related to
challenges the child faces in his/her ability to learn new things, understand
or process information, or communicate effectively. Learning
difficulties can be because by conditions such as Autism, Cerebral
Palsy, Asperger's Syndrome, and Epilepsy. Through pediatric
physiotherapy, it is possible to help improve the cognitive and functional
abilities of the child. The physiotherapist will use functional activity
exercises, postural exercises, education movement techniques, and
hydrotherapy
to improve the functional abilities of the child and improve their quality of
life.
5. Musculoskeletal Pediatric
Physiotherapy
Musculoskeletal conditions are to do
with the child's bones, joints, and muscles and they can cause damage
to the same. Musculoskeletal problems can occur because of a child injuring
oneself or because of growth of the child that can cause pain in the different
body parts, or sometimes a child is born with a Musculoskeletal condition.
These conditions can be painful and can restrict the child's ability to
function and lead to disruption of their regular activities and routine.
Through physiotherapy, it is possible to manage and decrease pain.
Physiotherapy also speeds up recovery, ensuring that the child can perform
everyday tasks with ease.
How Does Pediatric Physiotherapy
Work?
The goal of physiotherapy is to
improve the flexibility, posture, strength, balance, skills, and coordination of a
child. A physiotherapist will use a variety of techniques such as massage,
muscle stretching, joint mobilization and manipulation, various therapeutic
exercises, and dry needling to help improve the strength and range of
motion of the child. Physiotherapists incorporate fun and play in
their sessions and engage children through age-appropriate pediatric
physiotherapy activities and exercises that don't just help them but also keep
them entertained and motivated. Physiotherapists collaborate with family
members, teachers, doctors, and caregivers to help the child in
as many ways as possible whether it's at school, at home, or in their neighborhood. Physiotherapists also
teach parents and kids how to use and correctly handle equipment such as
standing frames, pushers, and mobility aids.