Physical therapists primarily focus on the gross motor aspect of development which includes rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, creeping, walking, running, stairs, jumping, etc. When a child is not meeting their milestones, the physical therapist helps to facilitate these skills through hands-on techniques, positional strategies, and incorporating activities in the form of play.
Depending on the age, disability, and setting, the role of the pediatric physical therapist differs greatly. However the overall goals remain consistent:
- Achieve age-appropriate developmental milestones (e.g., crawl, sit, stand, walk)
- Improve ability to participate in age-appropriate gross motor or school activities
- Improve range of motion, strength, mobility, posture, balance, endurance for independent function
- Improve your child's ability to independently negotiate his or her environment (home, school, job, community)
- Improving ability to participate and contribute to the society
To find out more about physical therapy and how it might help you, visit the American Physical Therapy Association's Web site, www.apta.org.
Contact North Coast Therapy if you have any questions or comments about our Physical Therapy Services or if you notice your child having difficulty in any of these areas. |
