What is pediatric physiotherapy?
A pediatric physiotherapist will assess and treat infants, children and adolescents in order for them to maximize their independence in the areas of gross motor skills, locomotion and play. Purposeful and coordinated movement is important for children to explore the world around them and achieve developmental milestones as they grow.
Why might my child need physiotherapy?
Children grow and develop at various paces. However, if they have difficulty meeting developmental milestones listed in the chart shown, they may benefit from physiotherapy intervention.
Common conditions that we see at our clinic include:
- Delayed achievement of milestones (refer to chart)
- General clumsiness
- Hypotonia (low muscle tone)
- Risk of motor delay due to prematurity and traumatic birth history
- Torticollis (twisted and tilted neck) and plagiocephaly (misshaped/flat head)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down’s Syndrome
- Rett’s Syndrome
- Chromosomal abnormalities/Genetic conditions
- Cardiac conditions
| Age | We Expect to See |
|---|---|
| 3-6 Months | Rolling in either direction
Early sitting |
| 6-9 Months | Stable sitting
Beginning to crawl |
| 9-12 Months | Pulling to stand
Crawling Crusing at surfaces |
| 12-18 Months | Walking |
| 18-24 Months | Running
Completing stairs two feet at a time with rail |
| 2-3 years | Jumping
Going up stairs one foot at a time hands-free Balancing on one foot for 3 seconds Walking backward |
| 3-5 years | Complete stairs one foot at a time hands-free
Hopping on one leg Galloping Skipping |
What techniques do we employ?
Every child is unique and will have a treatment program tailored to their needs after a physiotherapy assessment.
We may use the following techniques in virtual and in-person treatment sessions:
Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME)/MEDEK – CME/MEDEK is one of our primary physiotherapy treatment approaches at KCC. CME/MEDEK uses a series of exercises and handling techniques to provoke children’s automatic postural responses, build stability and increase body awareness in order to achieve developmental milestones.
Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) – NDT is holistic and dynamic treatment approach that applies individualized therapeutic handling based on movement analysis to support children achieve developmental milestones and functional independence.
Litegait (Body weight supported treadmill training) and Treadmill Training – The LiteGait® system enables clinicians to control various factors such as weight bearing, posture and balance over a treadmill or over ground to work on ambulation, standing and play. It allows children with a wide range of impairments and functional levels to experience upright posture and explore their abilities safely.
Seating Clinic & Equipment Prescription – Our on-site Assistive Devices Program (ADP) Authorizer can assess and prescribe therapy equipment such as walkers, standers and wheelchairs, in addition to applying for government funding for equipment.
Parent coaching and empowerment – A key part of our program is to equip parents with the information, confidence and tools, including an exercise program, to support their child’s development through physiotherapy.
Manual Therapy for orthopedic concerns – Specific targeted hands-on techniques may be applied to address orthopedic concerns like joint restrictions and scar tissue.
Spider Cage – Also known as a Universal Exercise Unit; Using a series of pullies, bungees, ropes, weights, harnesses and slings, clinicians can train specific muscles and allow children explore movement safely.
Therasuit® – Therasuit® is a soft canvas suit with bungee-like cords attached to facilitate specific muscle activation, improve movement patterns, increase body awareness and much more!
