Pediatric Physical TherapyIn Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, & New York
Your child has unlimited potential, and at MOTION, our therapy provides the opportunity for them to reach it. Our pediatric rehab strives to help young people develop their abilities and recover from injuries and setbacks.
We treat children of all ages from birth to young adults. Therapy for children may look different from adults, but the ultimate goal is the same: to help maximize function.
Here are some benefits your child can gain from pediatric therapy.
- Learn independence for functional skills
- Manage symptoms of medical conditions
- Reduce/correct abnormal movement patterns from developmental delays
- Slow disease progression
- Develop motor skills
- Reduce chronic pain
- Recover from injuries
- And most importantly, boost self-confidence
What is a Pediatric Physical or Occupational Therapist?
Pediatric therapists treat conditions similar to those in adults, just in smaller bodies. Our therapists aim to improve children's: motor skills, functional patterns, strength, balance, endurance, and orthopedic injuries and conditions. Children also may need help with congenital conditions, movement disorders, neurological conditions, and developmental delays.
Pediatric therapists work closely with parents and guardians. Your child may not be able to verbalize their goals or what milestones they have achieved. But their parents can. Our therapists maintain close and open communication with parents and other caregivers.
What does a Pediatric Therapist Do?
The primary goal of a pediatric therapist is to help kids move their bodies as freely as they want to. They also seek to reduce functional limitations, working on strength, range of motion, coordination, balance, and motor planning.
Movement is key for a child to explore their environment and overall development. Limited movements prevent full exploration and engagement with their surroundings. This can affect their confidence and limit their interaction with family and peers.
At MOTION, we aim to help develop or improve function, increase movement, and reduce pain. Our pediatric therapists help make daily activities easier and more enjoyable for kids.
What Will My Child Do in a Session?
Pediatric therapy looks different than your average adult session. It is standard for pediatric therapists to use play to help children improve their movement and function. In a pediatric clinic, it is common to see kids playing catch, running around through an obstacle course, or balancing on a balance beam.
Asking a 3-year-old with a 3-second attention span to do 3 sets of 10 calf raises will not go well. Instead, our pediatric therapists get creative. For example, therapists may blow bubbles in the air and ask the child to stand on their tiptoes to try to pop them. This motivates the child to perform the intended movement and work the target muscles, in a fun and interactive way.
What Conditions do Pediatric Therapists treat?
Our pediatric experts* treat conditions in children like:
- Balance and coordination problems
- Developmental delays
- Erb's Palsy / Brachial Plexus birth injuries
- Torticollis
- Congenital limb malformations
- Orthopedic or sports-related Injury rehabilitation
- Sensory processing disorders
- Toe walking
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Genetic disorders (Down syndrome or spina bifida)
- Muscle weakness or imbalances
- Poor motor planning
- Poor coordination
- Nerve/muscle conditions
- Rehabilitation after a brain injury such as a stroke
- Cancer
- And more
Pediatric Therapy at MOTION
Working with a MOTION pediatric therapist can set your child up for success in the future.
*Note: Pediatric therapy and treatments are only provided at select locations.
