Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can benefit children, especially during their crucial developmental stages. Whether your child has a diagnosed condition or simply needs a little help reaching their full potential, physiotherapy can be a valuable tool. Paediatric physiotherapy is focused on movement, play, and therapeutic exercises to help children overcome physical challenges and achieve their developmental goals.

Benefits of Paediatric Physiotherapy:

  • Early intervention for babies and toddlers: Helping little ones reach their developmental milestones through playful exercises and activities.

  • Specific therapeutic interventions for school-aged children: Addressing movement-based difficulties that can interfere with learning and participation.

  • Support for children with specific diagnoses: We have experience working with children with autism, cerebral palsy, dyspraxia, Down syndrome, and other conditions.

  • Diverse range of specialties: We can address a variety of needs, from gross motor skills development to posture and gait improvement.

  • Playful and engaging approach: We use fun and age-appropriate activities to make physiotherapy enjoyable and motivating for children.

  • Collaborative care: We work closely with parents, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to ensure your child receives the best possible care.

  • Improves gross motor skills and coordination

  • Enhances muscle strength and flexibility

  • Reduces pain and improves joint mobility

  • Promotes balance and postural control

  • Increases independence and participation in daily activities

  • Boosts confidence and self-esteem

  • Provides support and education for parents and caregivers

Physiotherapy can assist with:

  • Gross motor delays: Difficulty with crawling, walking, balance, and coordination.

  • Muscle weakness or tightness: Due to conditions like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or torticollis.

  • Clinical Pilates for children and adolescents with a disability

  • Joint pain or stiffness: From injuries, arthritis, or other conditions.

  • Neurological conditions: Affecting movement and muscle control, such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida.

  • Developmental disabilities: Including Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder.

  • Sports injuries: Sprains, strains, and other injuries sustained during physical activity.

  • Post-surgical rehabilitation: Supporting recovery after surgery to improve movement and function.

  • Early movement skills: Helping babies and toddlers learn to crawl, walk, and explore their world.

  • Coordination and balance: Improving gross motor skills for better play, sports participation, and daily activities.

  • Muscle tone: Addressing both tight and floppy muscles to improve movement and posture.

  • Posture and gait: Promoting good posture and walking patterns for overall health and development.

  • Fitness and sports participation: Helping children reach their athletic goals and prevent injuries.

  • Infant specific conditions such as torticollis, plagiocephaly, and developmental dysplasia of the hip

  • Balance control for daily self-cares such as dressing, bathing, and toileting

  • Transitioning between positions: sitting to standing, lying to standing

  • Gross motor skills: running, jumping, hopping, skipping, dancing, climbing, throwing, catching, kicking, hitting, bouncing

  • Gait retraining: secondary to conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, or toe walking

  • Building strength and endurance to maximize engagement in activities of daily living, school, community access, and extracurricular activities

  • Advanced skills: bike riding, scooter riding, playing on playground equipment

  • Developing the movement and coordination skills required for successful participation at home, day-care, school (indoor and outdoor activities), and physical activity programs in the community.

  • Serial Casting

  • Hypermobility

  • Chronic pain

  • Prescription and use of Assistive Technology (eg. mobility equipment)

  • Dynamic taping

  • Soft tissue treatments including myofascial release

What to Expect During a Physiotherapy Session: Your child's first physiotherapy session will involve a thorough assessment. This will include reviewing your child's medical history, observing their movement patterns, and discussing your concerns. Based on the assessment, the physiotherapist will develop a personalised treatment plan. Treatment sessions are typically fun and engaging, incorporating play-based activities, games, and exercises to motivate your child. Techniques may include:

  • Therapeutic exercises: Stretching, strengthening, and coordination activities tailored to your child's needs.

  • Sensory-motor integration: Activities that help your child process sensory information and use it to control their movements.

  • Manual therapy: Gentle massage and mobilization techniques to improve joint and muscle function.

  • Assistive devices: Braces, splints, or other equipment to support movement and posture.

  • Education and home exercises: Teaching parents and caregivers techniques to support their child's progress between sessions.