Physical therapy isn’t just a rehabilitation technique for older individuals who have undergone an operation, it’s also a treatment option for younger individuals facing a wide range of health conditions. We treat kids and teens all the time at our clinic, and oftentimes they are some of the best participants in therapy. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why physical therapy is often crucial for children with certain injuries and conditions, and why we believe we’re the perfect place to provide that care.
Physical Therapy For Kids
Kids can get injured just like adults can, which is why we’re very familiar treating issues like muscle strains or ligament tears in kids and teens. However, children also may be dealing with issues that were present at birth or that came about as their bodies developed, and correcting these problems in a timely manner can help prevent bigger problems down the road.
For example, it’s not uncommon for children and teens to develop a mild spinal curvature disorder as their bodies grow. When caught early on, these curvature issues tend to respond great to conservative techniques like bracing, posture improvements and physical therapy. Conversely, if these issues go unaddressed, the curvature disorder can get a lot worse as the body continues to develop, and that can lead to the need for expensive and invasive surgeries down the road.
A number of pediatric conditions follow this same logic. They can either be treated effectively with physical therapy while the issue is in its infancy, or they run the risk of worsening as the body continues to develop.
Issues From Birth
We also help treat pediatric conditions that have been present since birth. Certain conditions are more manageable because of the presence of a physical therapy program, and once a child is old enough to understand and follow instructions, these techniques can help provide them with new capabilities and a crucial sense of independence from physical limitations. Some of these conditions that we can help treat with physical therapy include:
- Muscular dystrophy
- Spina bifida
- Developmental delays
- Congenital differences in limb length
- Sensory development issues
We all want the best for our children, and sometimes that means helping them overcome physical limitations and injuries that came about through no fault of their own. Sometimes children are completely receptive to physical therapy, while other times they are reluctant or even scared of a new therapy routine. All of these emotions are completely normal, and while no two cases are ever the same, we’re confident that our background and experience working with kids can help us provide your child with the right environment to thrive. Many of our physical therapists are parents themselves, so they know a thing or two about getting through to kids!
So if a physical issue is causing problems or has the possibility of causing challenges for your child down the road, now is the time to connect with a physical therapist and work to correct those issues before they snowball. For more information, or to see if our therapy team could help your child, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab specialists today.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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