What Is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy (PT) is a healthcare specialty that helps children improve movement, strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Pediatric physical therapists work with children recovering from injuries, managing chronic conditions, or addressing developmental delays. They use exercises, manual therapy, equipment, and education to help children move better, reduce pain, and achieve their full physical potential.
Unlike occupational therapy which focuses on fine motor skills and daily living activities, physical therapy primarily addresses gross motor skills—large movements involving the whole body, like walking, running, jumping, and balance. However, there's often overlap between the two disciplines, and children may benefit from both.
📌 Goal of PT: To help children achieve maximum physical independence, reduce pain, improve function, and participate fully in age-appropriate activities including sports, play, and school.
Who Can Benefit from Physical Therapy?
🤕 Injury Recovery
- • Fractures and broken bones
- • Sprains and strains
- • Post-surgical rehabilitation
- • Sports injuries
🧠 Neurological Conditions
- • Cerebral palsy
- • Brain injury
- • Spinal cord injury
- • Muscular dystrophy
👶 Developmental Delays
- • Late walking or crawling
- • Poor coordination
- • Balance problems
- • Weak muscle tone
🦴 Orthopedic Conditions
- • Scoliosis
- • Torticollis
- • Growing pains
- • Osgood-Schlatter disease
⚽ Sports Performance
- • Injury prevention
- • Performance enhancement
- • Biomechanical correction
- • Return to sport after injury
🫁 Chronic Conditions
- • Juvenile arthritis
- • Cystic fibrosis
- • Heart conditions
- • Respiratory issues
What to Expect in Physical Therapy
Initial Evaluation
- • Comprehensive assessment of child's abilities
- • Measurement of strength, flexibility, balance
- • Gait analysis (how child walks/runs)
- • Discussion of goals and concerns
- • Development of treatment plan
Treatment Sessions
- • Typically 30-60 minutes
- • 1-3 times per week (varies by need)
- • Fun, play-based for young children
- • Exercise and activities tailored to child
- • Home exercise program provided
Duration of Treatment
Varies widely from a few weeks for simple injuries to months or years for chronic conditions. Progress is reassessed regularly, and treatment plan adjusted as needed.
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer
This article provides general information about physical therapy and is not intended to replace professional medical advice or therapeutic services. If you think your child might benefit from PT, consult with your pediatrician for evaluation and referral to a qualified physical therapist.