Pediatric Physical Therapy
 |
Developing The Skills To Participate And Succeedby Sloane Allen, Physical TherapistPhysical therapy can help our kids learn the skills they need to succeed in a variety of tasks. |
We all know what a benefit physical therapy can be for an adult recovering from a surgery or for helping a teenage athlete get over an injury and get back to the game, but often times we dismiss motor issues in our little ones. Physical therapy is not just for people with diseases, injuries, or surgeries. And it isn’t just for kids with disabilities. There are plenty of “typical” or “normal” kids out there that have problems with motor skills, whether it be deficits in strength, muscle tone, endurance, or coordination. These issues can affect their ability to learn and master motor skills (think jump rope, baseball, PE activities, and playground games). Others may seem weak, clumsy, or just not able to keep up with the other kids. It can also affect the child’s confidence, desire to participate in activities, willingness to try something new, and their self-esteem. This does not need to be the case!
Physical therapy can help our kids learn the skills they need to succeed in a variety of tasks, at home, school, the park, or the baseball diamond. From strengthening muscles, improving posture, increasing endurance, learning a new skill, or just mastering a current skill, a physical therapist can help. At Wheenk! Physical Therapy, our therapists see just one patient an hour. Our pediatric specialist will work with your child in a one-on-one setting. Each session is focused on developing the skills they need. The setting is a safe place to work and the treatment moves at the child’s pace.
A Wheenk! physical therapist can assess your child’s gross motor skills (large motor skills, think sitting, standing, walking, running, jumping, balancing, playing) and develop a customized plan to help your child develop their skills and succeed. Each child’s needs and abilities are different and a physical therapist accustomed to working with children can develop a treatment plan to get your child the skills they need to participate and succeed.
