Pediatric Physical Therapy
PEDIATRICS
In my 16+ years of working at Munson Otsego Hospital, I had the privilege of treating babies and kids. I provide evaluation and treatment for children with various physical challenges, including injuries, developmental delays, chronic pain, and medical conditions, to help them achieve independent and functional mobility skills.
Pediatric Therapy Services
Orthopedic, sensory integration, balance, neurological.
What To Expect During Pediatric Physical Therapy
I will evaluate your child with the best evaluative tools and develop an effective treatment plan based on their needs. Evaluation includes a parent interview, standardized testing, informal assessment, and play-based interaction with your child to determine their current gross motor abilities. Treatment sessions may focus on improving balance, postural strength, sensory integration, and motor skills. A home exercise program provided and mandatory to encourage further development and carryover of skills.
Benefits of Pediatric Physical Therapy
Pediatric physical therapy can address your child’s strength, flexibility, and range of motion, and improve their function. Pediatric physical therapy develops or restores motor skills and coordination and helps prevent further issues as they age. Pediatric physical therapy helps prevent or reduce permanent disabilities and disease progression and helps to avoid or minimize the need for surgery, if indicated. Pediatric physical therapy also promotes independence and improves self-esteem and confidence, which allows your child to actively participate in daily life. Plus, it is FUN.
Conditions Treated With Pediatric Physical Therapy
Neurological
& Movement Disorders — arise from issues such as brain injury,
medication, autoimmune disease, infection, or genetic disease. Common
conditions include:
- Ataxia
- Dystonia
- Myoclonus
- Restless leg syndrome
- Tourette syndrome and tics
- Tremor
Pediatric Developmental Disorders/Disabilities (PDD) — a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical ability, learning, language, or behavior. Common conditions include:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental delays
- Genetic conditions (Down syndrome, Fragile X, Williams syndrome)
- Hearing loss
- Intellectual disabilities
- Language and speech disorders
- Learning disorders
- Muscular dystrophy
- Tourette syndrome
- Vision impairments
Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Conditions — consistof problems with your child’s bones, muscles, or joints. Common conditions include:
- Back pain
- Congenital limb differences/limb length inequality
- Foot deformities (club foot)
- Fracture and trauma
- Generalized impaired strength, motor control, flexibility, endurance, joint motion, or posture
- Hip dysplasia
- In-toeing
- Out-toeing
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
- Ligament injuries
- Meniscus tears
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Scoliosis & spine disorders
- Shoulder instability
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
- Sports-related injuries
- Tendonitis
- Torticollis
- Special interests also include: wheelchair/seating and mobility
Neuromuscular Disorders — conditions that affect your child’s nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Common conditions include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Chiari malformations
- Congenital anomalies of the brain and spinal cord
- Craniofacial anomalies
- Hydrocephalus
- Muscular dystrophy
- Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI)
- Spina bifida/myelomeningocele
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Tumors of the brain and spinal cord
- Special interests also include concussion, headache/migraine, metabolic diseases affecting the nervous system, and brain malformations
Coordination and Balance/Vestibular Disorders — conditions that affect your child’s neurological (nervous system), auditory (hearing), or vestibular (balance) system. Common conditions include:
- Benign paroxysmalvertigo of childhood
- Central vestibular disorders
- Labyrinthitis
- Ménière's disease
- Neuritis/vestibular neuronitis
- Ototoxicity
- Peripheral vestibular disorders
- Systemic disorders
- Vascular disorders