You may think of physiotherapy as a form of treatment for aches, pains, and injuries. However, physio can assist with a broad range of concerns and goals and has the potential to be significantly beneficial to any age group.
As children’s bodies grow, develop, and undergo the rigours and excitement of childhood, they may deal with a variety of factors that a physiotherapist, trained and experienced in paediatric care, can work towards managing or treating. If your child has an issue that is making daily activities difficult or they are showing signs they may need extra support to reach target outcomes, a physio may be able to help.
Our physiotherapists can deliver personalised services and interventions to your child and provide you with tips. Learn more about how physiotherapy can help children and how the Chatterbox team is here for you and your child.
What is Paediatric Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists can provide care to children of all ages, from infancy to young adulthood and can assist with many aspects that impact kids’ daily lives and development. Sessions are tailored to your child’s specific needs and goals. At Chatterbox, one of our qualified and highly experienced physios will provide a comprehensive assessment of your child’s requirements and deliver care either short or long-term, depending on what is best for you and your child.
Physiotherapy tailored for children’s needs has the potential to help in many ways. A physiotherapist must have experience in treating and supporting children. Kids are not smaller versions of adults, after all! Our physios at Chatterbox regularly assist with various concerns and conditions and look forward to meeting you and your child and working towards improving their quality of life.
Who Can Paediatric Physiotherapy Help?
Childhood is a complex and multi-faceted time in everyone’s life. The body is undergoing huge changes and there is so much to learn and navigate. Throughout this time, there are countless factors that a paediatric physiotherapist can help with.
Five areas in which a paediatric physio may assist with include:
1. Growth And Development
There are aspects of child development that may be difficult for some children. This can include reaching certain milestones for their age group, such as typical gross and fine motor skills. This may present with issues such as sitting unassisted and jumping and holding small objects and dressing. Hand-eye coordination is another common development issue, which you may notice with difficulties with activities such as catching a ball or appearing clumsy.
Our physios can develop a program that will focus on these developmental issues that may involve techniques such as sensory activities and strengthening exercises.
2. Walking Abnormalities
Some children display difficulty with walking, which may develop early or later in childhood. This can include issues such as an uneven gait, flat feet, and toe walking. These may cause problems such as pain, increased falls risk, limping, and trouble participating in activities.
Your child’s physio can help them through methods such as gait analysis, custom orthotics, and balance exercises.
3. Medical Conditions
There are a range of conditions that affect children’s development, comfort, and functionality. Personalised physiotherapy may assist with conditions such as:
- Cerebral palsy.
- Autism.
- Arthritis.
- Spina bifida.
- Hypotonia.
- Hypermobility.
- Obesity.
- Scoliosis.
- Muscular dystrophy.
- Post surgery recovery.
Some methods your child’s physio may utilise include deep tissue massage, dry needling, exercise prescription, and support devices.
4. Injury And Pain Support
Injuries are a common issue for kids, from twisted ankles to broken bones. If your child is experiencing pain or reduced mobility, physiotherapy may be able to help improve their comfort and functionality with techniques such as manual therapy, joint manipulation, ultrasound therapy, and strapping. Your child may require a visit to the doctor for appropriate tests too.
5. Athletic Performance
Physiotherapy can not only be advantageous for discomfort or reduced functionality. This holistic form of treatment may help your child reach their goals with health and fitness. This can involve methods such as strengthening exercise, manual therapy, sport-specific guidance, and lifestyle modification.
Chatterbox Physios Can Support Your Child
Your child deals with a multitude of challenges, new experiences, and developmental factors every day. Sometimes, they may benefit from having extra support, whether this is to treat pain, improve mobility and functionality, or to work towards goals and target outcomes.
If you are interested in finding out whether paediatric physiotherapy may be advantageous to your child, please contact our friendly and experienced team to learn more and organise their initial consultation.