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Pediatric physical therapy is the evaluation and treatment of physical impairments in children that are often related to genetic, neurological and orthopedic disorders. The goal of pediatric physical therapy is to assist children with physical challenges to improve their mobility, strength, endurance, balance and coordination, while maximizing their independence, self-care and other functional skills necessary for daily living.

The physical therapists here at A Different Kind of Perfect take great pride in helping children and their families achieve greater happiness under challenging circumstances. With an impressive array of tools, they create an individualized exercise program using hands-on techniques, therapeutic exercises with play and recreational activities. And our family-centered approach encourages every member of the family to be involved and become an advocate for the child’s independence.

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS

Involve large muscle movements for activities such as walking, climbing, running, jumping, swimming, ball skills, bike riding, and pumping a swing. Balance, bilateral coordination, eye-hand coordination, postural strength, motor planning, and sensory processing are foundational building blocks for active play. Success in playground activities, PE, sports, and childhood outdoor games are dependent on intact gross motor functioning.


BILATERAL COORDINATION SKILLS

This is the ability to coordinate the left and right sides of the body to perform a motor action. Intact bilateral coordination is required for many gross motor activities such as climbing, jumping, skipping, catching a ball, pumping a swing, riding a bicycle, pedaling a tricycle, and swimming. Tying shoes, buttoning, and stringing beads are examples of fine motor bilateral coordination skills.

MUSCLE TONE & POSTURAL CONTROL

Functional range of motion, adequate trunk strength, a stable posture, and good shoulder strength and stability provide the base of support needed to perform fine motor and gross motor activities. When children are weak throughout their trunk and shoulders, their ability to perform everyday childhood motor skills is often impacted. These children often tire easily and may even have difficulty maintaining an upright posture when sitting in a chair or sitting on the floor.

SOCIAL & PRAGMATIC SKILLS

Children can have difficulty with peer interactions in various social environments including school, extracurricular activities and play dates. Such difficulties may include turn taking, manners, cooperation, initiating conversation, making friends, voice volume/speed, eye contact, and solving problems. Other areas that can impact a child’s social skills include difficulties with sensory processing, decreased motor planning skills, decreased gross and fine motor skills, decreased coping skills, and decreased self esteem.

SELF HELP SKILLS DAILY LIVING

Self-help skills include mealtime/eating, brushing teeth, sleep/wake cycles, getting dressed, adjusting zippers and fasteners, manipulating buttons, tying shoes, and performing chores. There are many underlying reasons why a child may have difficulties with activities of daily living. Treatment strategies will address the underlying deficit as well as the skill itself.

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