What is Pediatric Physical Therapy (PT)?
Pediatric physical therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy focused on helping infants, children, and adolescents develop, restore, or improve their physical abilities so they can move and function as independently as possible. We work with children who have a wide range of conditions, including:
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Developmental delays
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Birth injuries or congenital conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy, spina bifida)
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Neurological disorders
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Muscle and joint conditions
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Injuries and post-surgical recovery
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Orthopedic issues (e.g., flat feet, toe walking, scoliosis)
Why is PT important?
We realize that a child’s job is to play! Our physical therapists are concerned with a child’s ability to participate in movement activities such as crawling, walking, running, playing games and participating in sports. In addition, physical therapists can help the children who rely on mobility devices learn to navigate safely in various environments.
Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy overlap in many areas, due to how interrelated the different parts of the human body are. Typically, physical therapy treats the lower body, occupational therapy treats the upper body and speech therapy focuses on treating the jaw, lips, throat and tongue. We use a holistic, family-centered approach in our therapy services, designed to complement one another with the goal of helping our patients advance to their next therapeutic level.
Goals of Pediatric Physical Therapy:
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Improve strength, balance, and coordination
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Enhance gross motor skills (like crawling, walking, jumping)
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Support posture and alignment
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Manage pain or discomfort
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Promote independence in daily activities
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Educate families on home exercises and positioning strategies
What to consider with Pediatric Physical Therapy
• Is my child having trouble with balance, coordination, or frequent falls?
• Does my child struggle with crawling, walking, running, or other movement activities?
• Is my child delayed in reaching physical milestones for their age?
• Does my child have difficulty participating in playground activities or sports?
• Is my child experiencing pain, weakness, or limited range of motion in their joints?
• Does my child have trouble with posture or seem to tire easily during physical activities?
• Has my child suffered an injury or undergone surgery that affects their movement?
• Does my child use or need mobility devices and require help navigating different environments safely?
Download the Gross Motor Skills Checklist
Is your child meeting important movement milestones? Our Gross Motor Skills Checklist helps parents track development in areas like balance, coordination, strength, and mobility. This tool makes it easy to monitor progress and recognize when your child may benefit from physical therapy support. A great resource to use at home or share with your child’s care team.
How long will my child need PT?
Every child is different and as such, we treat each client like an individual. Some children will only need to see us for a short time , depending on their situation, such as a sports injury or a reluctant walker. Physical therapy for kids with significant developmental delays and other disabilities may require more time and frequency.
What type of tools does a therapist use?
Our physical therapy for kids includes a therapeutic gym, soft play room and a Snoezelen Room, among other numerous tools. We have a rock wall, stairs, swings, jungle gym, ball pit, trampoline, therapy balls, water bed……the list goes on! Therapist use music, balls, manipulative and age appropriate games to engage the children in each therapy session.
Our physical therapists want to help children reach optimal independence and adequate physical functioning at home, at school, on the playground and in their community. We can even help teach parents how to continue their child’s care at home to help them develop even further.
