Paediatric Physiotherapy at NAPA Centre

NAPA Centre is a world-renowned paediatric physiotherapy clinic, offering intensive sessions worldwide in addition to traditional weekly therapy at our six clinic locations. This blog discusses the importance of paediatric physiotherapy. To learn more about paediatric PT at NAPA, visit our program page here.

The Importance of Physiotherapy for Kids

There are considerable advantages when undergoing paediatric pyhsiotherapy that may not only benefit a child physically, but mentally too.

Physiotherapy helps children learn to successfully and independently perform gross motor skills and functional mobility skills.

As a child begins to successfully develop these skills, it creates a greater form of independence that helps contribute to achieving a higher sense of self-esteem. Though physiotherapy for children provides a safer form of development and strengthening, it is also capable of being an essential preventative measure.

Physiotherapy also helps young athletes in preventing injury by addressing any muscle imbalance or weakness as well as help them to return to play after injury. A variety of treatment interventions are used including: developmental activities, therapeutic exercise, balance and coordination activities, adaptive play activities, mobility training, safety and prevention programs, and activities to promote overall wellness.

Benefits of Paediatric Physiotherapy

You are probably asking yourself, what are the main benefits that come with paediatric physiotherapy? We have listed below the essentials involved in our services, the benefits that come with it and the experience your child will get.

Physiotherapy rehabilitation is extremely important after an injury and there is no question that those who go through physiotherapy end up in much better shape in the long run and return to full activity much sooner. Oftentimes, it’s crucial for individuals who have undergone a surgery or suffered an injury to receive rehabilitative physiotherapy services to regain the level of activity they had in the past. Because of this, it is very important to take any type of physiotherapy with the utmost of importance.

What Can Physiotherapy Help My Child Improve On?

• Range of Motion – how far a joint can bend or straighten
• Strength – strength against gravity
• Balance – ability to maintain balance (tilting and righting responses) and to keep oneself from falling (protective responses)
• Reflexes – automatic responses seen particularly in infants (palmar grasp, positive support, asymmetrical tonic neck reflex [ATNR] and labyrinthine)
• Posture – alignment of the body in various positions
• Tone – natural resistance in a muscle (increased tone is stiffness and decreased tone is floppiness)

What’s Included in NAPA Paediatric Physiotherapy Services?

• Customized plan based on your child’s unique needs and goals (NAPA offers paediatric PT in both traditional and intensive settings)
• Stretching and strengthening activities and exercises to increase a child’s range and quality of movement
• Establishing or reshaping movement patterns to follow normal development
• Improving balance and equilibrium skills
• Improving postural control
• Gait training (walking)
• Evaluating the need for adaptive equipment and orthopedic devices

How Do I Know If My Child Needs Physiotherapy?

Your child may benefit from physiotherapy if:

• They are not meeting the expected developmental milestones during the first year of life (ie. rolling, sitting, standing, walking).
• They have a strong preference for turning their head to one side or using one side of their body.
• They walk up on the balls of their feet or walk in an atypical/awkward manner.
• They have difficulty keeping up with their peers during play.
• They are not able to perform the same gross motor tasks (ie. hopping, jumping, skipping) as their peers.
• They frequently trip and fall when walking.
• They complain of pain when performing gross motor tasks.
• They were injured and are not able to perform at their prior level of function.

What is Physiotherapy?

If you do not know what physiotherapy is, it is essentially various workouts and exercises that focus on certain muscles and movements, which are aimed at strengthening muscles and tendons.Physiotherapy is very similar to going to the gym and working with a personal trainer, although the physiotherapists that your child will work with are specifically trained and experienced in paediatric diagnoses and injuries. It is extremely important for children to follow their physiotherapy routine as closely as they can, due to the fact that they are growing while they are likely going through the process of recovery. The fact that they are growing means that it is even more important to address any concerns within a timely manner.

• Related Reading: Explaining the Difference Between Occupational and Physiotherapy

What Paediatric Physiotherapy Methods are used at NAPA?

At NAPA Centre, we provide the best paediatric physiotherapy techniques and tools from around the world, including CME, SpiderCage, and NeuroSuit. We take an individualized approach to therapy because we understand that each child is unique with very specific needs. We embrace differences with an understanding that individualized programs work better. For this reason, no two therapeutic programs are alike. If your child needs our services, we will work closely with you to select the best therapies for them, creating a customized program specific to your child’s needs and your family’s goals. Let your child’s journey begin today by contacting us to learn more.