Physical therapy is crucial for healing after injuries or surgery. But did you know there’s a special type for kids? Pediatric urgent care or physical therapy can enhance children’s physical abilities, motor skills, and overall well-being.
It aids in the recovery from overuse injuries and teaches children safer movements to avoid future harm. Let’s explore the benefits of physical therapy for kids, the conditions it treats, and how parents can support their children during therapy sessions.
What Is Pediatrics Physical Therapy?
Pediatric physical therapists are experts in children’s development and conditions that impact bones and muscles. They possess specialized training and know how to work effectively with kids, keeping them engaged during exercises. This therapy enhances physical abilities, motor skills, and aids recovery from overuse injuries or surgery.
6 Ways Your Child Can Benefit from Physical Therapy
Pediatric physical therapy aids in child’s development. It encourages an active lifestyle, enhances motor skills, and supports brain development. Here are different ways how a physical therapy can benefit your child:
Treating Overuse Injuries:
Overuse injuries happen when there’s repeated stress on muscles, joints, ligaments, or tendons, leading to discomfort or pain that worsens without treatment. Children are at higher risk for overuse injuries due to their ongoing development.
For kids facing such injuries, pediatric medical care and physical therapy are crucial. Early treatment can aid proper healing, preventing potential long-term problems. By addressing overuse injuries promptly, children’s bone growth can be safeguarded, promoting healthier bones and reducing the chances of future injuries.
Recovery from Head Injuries:
When a child suffers a head injury, pediatric physical therapy can help them recover. It focuses on improving the gross motor skills affected by the injury. Brain injuries can lead to a loss of certain abilities, but with individualized activities and exercises, pediatric physical therapy aims to help the child regain some of their lost functions. The therapy plan is personalized to enhance coordination, balance, strength, and flexibility.
Delay In Their Growth and Skill Development:
Developmental delays happen when children take longer to learn than the expected timeframe. Throughout childhood, kids develop various skills gradually, including:
- Lifting and supporting their heads
- Rolling
- Reaching
- Grabbing, gripping, and holding objects
- Sitting up without help
- Putting objects in their mouths
- Crawling
- Pulling themselves up
- Standing with weight on their legs
- Walking while holding onto furniture
- Walking independently
- Holding their own bottles, feeding with finger foods, and using utensils
- Running
- Jumping
- Catching and throwing
Children usually achieve these milestones at certain ages. Although some may reach them slightly earlier or later, a significant delay might suggest that your child could benefit from pediatric physical therapy.
A pediatric physical therapist will plan gross motor activities to help your child practice and reach these milestones. With fun physical therapy play activities, your child can enhance their motor skills and get the support they need to reach their developmental milestones.
Improving Muscle Issues:
Muscular dystrophy, also known as muscle disease, is caused by gene mutations. This condition gradually weakens muscles and reduces mobility, making everyday tasks challenging for children. Doctors may recommend pediatric physical therapy (PT) to enhance flexibility and strength. For children with muscular dystrophy, PT can offer the following benefits:
- Reduce or prevent muscle stiffness
- Increase their ability to handle daily tasks and activities
- Minimize joint contractures
- Improve or maintain muscle strength and cardiorespiratory health
- Foster emotional and social well-being
Apart from physical benefits, pediatric physical therapy can also positively impact a child’s social and emotional health.
Treating Genetic Disorders:
Pediatric physical therapy can benefit children with genetic disorders like Down Syndrome. This condition may cause reduced strength, loose ligaments, and low muscle tone.
Children with Down Syndrome can perform similar tasks and activities as other kids, but they might face movement inefficiencies and foot pain due to their unique challenges. Pediatric physical therapists assist these children in learning safe and effective movement patterns to develop motor skills.
By teaching efficient movement, therapists help children support their bodies during skill development and avoid unnecessary stress on their bodies.
To Treat Scoliosis:
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves sideways in an abnormal C or S shape. Mild cases may need regular checkups, while severe ones may require surgery or back braces. Children with scoliosis may experience irregular posture, back pain, and difficulty breathing. Visible signs include uneven shoulder blades, hips, and ribcages, and doctors use x-rays to diagnose it.
Pediatric physical therapy includes non-surgical treatments like physical therapy and back braces to reduce pain and improve independence.
Whom To Connect For Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Pediatric physical therapy at Circlecare4kids improves children’s range of motion and reduces pain. It aids recovery from injuries, prevents worsening of medical conditions, and helps kids achieve crucial developmental milestones. Your child will enjoy fun movement activities while enhancing their physical abilities.
