Physical Therapy and Children
Physical therapy can assist children and infants in achieving age-appropriate gross motor skills. Physical therapy can improve cardio-pulmonary, and skeletal muscle strength and endurance. All improvements help infants and children participate in age-appropriate activities. Physical therapists also work to improve deficits caused by orthopedic injuries, disease, disability, and developmental delay.
Conditions That May Require Physical and/or Occupational Therapy
- Developmental delays
- Learning disabilities
- Delayed motor development
- Sensory Integrative Dysfunction
- Arthritis
- Neurological conditions
- Orthopedic conditions
- Prematurity
- Visual Difficulties
- Delayed Coordination
- Decreased Muscle strength
- Decreased muscle endurance
- Unable to keep up with peers
- Osteoporosis
- Feeding difficulties
Signs That a Child May Benefit From Physical Therapy
- Difficulty participating in physical activities
- Poor gross motor skills (catching, throwing balls, hopping on one foot, jumping, skipping, etc.)
- Difficulty moving arms and legs due to joint swelling, contractures and/or pain
- Unable to keep up with peers
- Poor posture
- Difficulty recovering from orthopedic injuries
- Osteoporosis
