Pediatric Physical Therapy Services
What is Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Pediatric physical therapy is a specialized field that focuses on helping children from infancy through adolescence improve their motor skills, strength, balance, coordination, and movement patterns, by addressing developmental issues and facilitating their ability to function independently in daily life; essentially, it's a way to help children reach developmental milestones through targeted exercises and activities tailored to their needs
Who we work with
Pediatric physical therapists work with children, from infants to young adults, who have conditions affecting their movement and development, including those with developmental delays, neurological disorders like cerebral palsy, orthopedic injuries, genetic disorders, muscle weakness, or issues related to prematurity, often focusing on improving motor skills, strength, balance, and coordination through age-appropriate activities and exercises.
Goals of Physical Therapy
Our physical therapist will work alongside your child’s existing care team to create customized plans that align with their unique needs and goals. Whether it’s building core strength for better posture, improving coordination to excel in sports, or learning to move more comfortably and safely, physical therapy provides targeted interventions that make a big difference in children’s lives.
Our interventions are designed to tap into your children’s strengths and engage their bodies and minds to develop the skills they need to become more independent. Pediatric PT sessions are typically fun and playful, and look and feel like playtime. PTs make exercises and activities will feel like a game for your child. They also give you activities to try at home to continue building progress when not in clinic.
General Indicators that your child may benefit from PT services
Signs Your Child May Benefit from Physical Therapy:
- Difficulty walking, running, or keeping up with peers.
- Frequent falls or trouble with balance.
- Trouble climbing stairs, jumping, or performing age-appropriate movements.
- Stiffness or tight muscles that limit flexibility.
- Delays in meeting physical milestones, such as crawling or walking.
- Pain or discomfort during movement.
- Pre- or Post- surgical treatment interventions needs from an injury affecting a child's functional mobility.
Overview of Services
Services begin with a 60 minute initial evaluation to get to know both you and your child and what difficulties you may be concerned about. The physical therapist will then essentially “play” with your child while having him or her do certain tasks to observe them in action. Standardized testing and objective measurements will be completed as well as a questionnaire by the parent to determine long- and short-term goals for your child.
A doctor’s prescription will be required to schedule an initial evaluation.
If your child is deemed a candidate for services, Color Along Pediatric Therapy provides physical therapy services and support to begin implementing interventions to meet goals set for your child.