Children’s Physiotherapy is the management and care of babies, children and young people from birth to 19 years old or school leaving age (some young people may be directed towards adult services if this is more appropriate). A Children’s Physiotherapist will work together with the young person to develop their motor skills (jumping, running, walking etc) and aim to promote independence. Our aim is to help children and young people to participate in and enjoy life.
Our Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist, Kavi Punniyakotti uses her 17 year experience to offer diagnosis, expert assessments, therapy sessions and rehabilitation, both in our comfortable Private Clinic, but also in homes or nurseries or other community settings as appropriate.
A Children’s Physiotherapist works closely with each young person and their family/carer, school/ college, social care and other health care professionals as needed.
Being a Children’s Physiotherapist is a really specialised job, so much so that they even have their own organisation! Due to this, they are able to understand :
Child Development
Normal and abnormal movement patterns
How movement skills develop
Therapeutic interventions that enable and optimise development and well being
Childhood diseases and conditions that impact on development and well being
The Child is the centre of the treatment and everything should be planned around them
How best to keep children and young people safe
How to explain the information to a young person in a way that they are able to make an informed choice
First and foremost, this is an assessment of the needs of the young person that we are seeing.
This assessment may include, but not be limited to :
Strength and Co-ordination
Motor Development
Posture & Balance
Quality of Movement
Function
Once our skilled Physiotherapist has done the assessment with the young person, they will feed back their findings and discuss a therapy plan with the child and family. We always encourage the family to be fully involved in the whole process as this makes it a lot easier for the child.
When a child shows difficulty in achieving a milestone in one or several areas of development.
Physiotherapy can support the child with the skills and strength to overcome these difficulties, enabling them to be more functional in the world around them.
Cerebral Palsy
Brain Injuries
Difficulties associated with a premature birth, such as stiffness in muscles, poor movement patterns, floppiness
Meningitis
Physiotherapy can really help in the management of these conditions. If you start early, research has shown that this can provide benefits as it can ‘rewire’ the brain!
Spina Bifida and other Spinal defects
Auto immune conditions
Muscular diseases, such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy or Duchene Muscular Dystrophy
Physiotherapy works well to strengthen the muscles and teaches alternative strategies for movement with the use of orthosis and equipment.
The therapy supports young people in maintaining mobility and other physical skills by delaying the deterioration as much as possible in progressive muscular conditions.
These are conditions that exist from birth.
Physiotherapy helps in stretching the tight muscles and strengthens the weak muscles to enable the child to improve their movements. It also helps to avoid any further deterioration and deformity.
Physiotherapy plays a major role in identifying muscular difficulties and supporting the child with skills and strengths that are required for their development.
Upper & Lower Limbs
Muscle/ Tendon surgeries – eg Hamstring Release
Bone surgery such as hip
Spinal fusion/ correction surgeries
Physiotherapy is a vital part of the rehabilitation process! It helps to promote the child’s mobility and function. Our Therapy will strengthen the weak muscles, elongate the tight muscles to provide stability, balance and help the child to reach their full potential.
Why not give us a ring to speak to Kavi, or fill out this short form to request a call back.
We have also produced a brochure which goes into more detail, just click here to fill out a short form to be able to download the brochure.