Target Ages: Birth - 18 years old
Primary goal: To help youth achieve their potential in strength, balance, coordination, motor learning and mobility overall.
Pediatric physical therapy has similar purposes to PT for adults, which involves rehabilitation for individuals that have experienced injuries. However, physical therapy for children and toddlers addresses potential challenges they may face as a part of developmental delays. Both physical disorders and developmental disabilities can be treated with the help of pediatric physical therapy.
Read below about the opportunities your family has when it comes to therapy sessions and intervention.
Dedicated Staff that Care for Families
Most families that begin therapy with their child(ren) tend to feel overwhelmed by the amount of new information they receive from professionals. Our staff is here to educate the entire family, treat the child with consideration for the parents’ goals, and clearly explain our process.
Here is a quick definition of what our therapist titles mean:
PT DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy
C/NDT: Certified in Neuro-Developmental Treatment
Currently, we have 3 physical therapists on staff and are always growing our team:
-
Jessi, PT DPT
-
Dana, PT DPT
-
Sarah, PT DPT, C/NDT
What Does a Physical Therapy Session Consist Of ?
Our Physical Therapists aim to improve overall movement and motor function. This is done by concentrating on a child's functional independence so that they can participate in activities in their homes, school, and community. Physical Therapy can improve their strength, coordination, posture, motor skills development, mobility and more through learning activities and play.
Occupational Therapy is a similar type of treatment that focuses more on cognitive development related to everyday tasks. Learn more about our occupational therapists here.
It’s vitally important that parents find therapists who understand how their children behave, as well as understanding their specific obstacles, in order to provide the best care for your little ones.
How can Pediatric Physical Therapy help my child?
Children are constantly learning and adapting to their family lifestyle and home life. By addressing obstacles to development early on, parents can enroll their children in pediatric physical therapy as a way to offset any delay in developmental milestones.
Physical and Occupational Therapy can help children in many ways. Some of these benefits include:
-
Sitting up, crawling and walking
-
Improving responsiveness and participation in daily activities
-
Helping children’s sensory processing
-
Improving functional skills
-
Treating injuries
-
Improving overall range of motion and comfort
What conditions can Pediatric Physical Therapists treat?
Pediatric PTs can help address children with a variety of diagnosed conditions, as well as general symptoms of maladjustment or developmental delay.
-
Neuromuscular Disorders
-
Muscular Dystrophy
-
Cerebral Palsy
-
Spina Bifida
-
Hypotonia
-
Hydrocephalus
-
Infantile Spasms
-
Sensory Processing Disorder
-
Scoliosis
-
Torticollis
-
Autism
-
Down Syndrome
-
Incoordination
Still have questions for us? Get in touch here.
Physical therapy for kids in Peoria: Mueller Pediatric Physical Therapy
To summarize, pediatric physical therapy can help nearly any child, as opposed to sports physical therapy or rehabilitative therapy. Mueller Pediatric specializes in treating child’s total development and progress, especially within the critical age ranges for developmental milestones.
Developmental physical therapy like Early Intervention is another way we address difficulties.
Start on Physical Therapy for Children here, or explore your options for Occupational Therapy (OT) as well!
Whatever the concern, sign up for a free screening with your child today.
See: Types of Physical Therapy Specialties article