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The Paediatric Physiotherapist
Paediatric Physiotherapy is the treatment of any childhood condition, acute or chronic, by physical intervention, which may marginalise physical development and therefore interfere with a child’s functional development for living and learning.
Paediatric Physiotherapists are involved with the physical development of a child and how this influences academic, cognitive, social and emotional development.
Referral may be initiated as a result of :
Delay in normal developmental milestones
Difficulties with physical activities including PE, balance, visual-motor ball skills
Poor postural integrity
Problems with gait requiring analysis
Imbalance in muscle tone
Muscle weakness
The role of the Physiotherapist … To provide appropriate assessment, advice and intervention for any physical difficulties which may occur due to a developmental delay or specific disorder or be acquired through injury or a degenerative process.
The Paediatric physiotherapist will carry out a comprehensive assessment to establish a child’s baseline functional level and to ascertain whether their performance falls at an age appropriate level and with the quality expected.
What is involved in an assessment ? The Therapy in Praxis Limited physiotherapy assessment process
includes a comprehensive assessment & specific programme planning for effective treatment intervention.
Therapy in Praxis Limited will use different evaluation procedures including standardised assessments in order to identify a child’s major underlying dysfunctions.
Typically, the physiotherapist will assess : Muscle strength around shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle
Flexion, [bending] & Extension, [straightening] of the muscles
Balance & Equilibrium Reactions
Eye-foot coordination
Eye-hand co-ordination
Mid-line crossing & bilateral integration
Directional awareness
Spatial awareness
Motor planning & quality of execution of movements
Therapy in Praxis Limited is well aware that children referred to us often are already experiencing a high level of anxiety and apprehension. One of our main aims is to make the child feel comfortable and relaxed, not to feel a failure and to enjoy the assessment !
Parents are given a report of the assessment and recommendations are made. If treatment is indicated, this usually takes place on a weekly basis for approximately 8 weeks and this is supported by home –based / school-based programmes.
Further intervention and monitoring is recommended as appropriate. Regular monitoring, usually on either an annual or six monthly basis is required until the child has completed his or her final growth spurt.
Ensuring a collaborative approach between the child, the therapist[s], parents and educational professionals is fundamental to success ! It is a team effort.
Click Here For Next Page: Speech & Language Therapy
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