What do Pediatric Physiotherapists do?

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Pediatric physiotherapy, like adult physiotherapy, involves looking at many different components of movement to help improve quality of life, comfort and strength. Whatever the age, the aim is for the baby or child to stay active, play and participle in everyday life! To reach this precious goal, a complete assessment of the situation and history is done by the pediatric physiotherapist and treatment options include:

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• Gentle and safe stretches with babies and children. 

• Simple protocol to safely return to exercise and sports after an injury or pain episode.

• Supporting the body to adapt to growth. 

• Modifying certain activities according to physiological differences.

• Modifying training to enable safe participation. 

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Our physiotherapists use a variety of treatment techniques including but not limited to:​ massage and tissue mobilisation, stretching, posture assessment, trigger point release, osteopathy treatment techniques, manual therapy.

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What issues can our therapist address: 

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Neonatal and Paediatric issues 

Gentle manual therapy techniques are used on babies from 15 days onward and children to treat hiccups, latching issues, tongue tie, torticcolis, birth injury (shoulder dystocia, erb's palsy), flat head syndrome, sleeping disturbances, constipation, cranial deformities, acid reflux. Our therapist can also treat congenital differences such as flat feet (pes planus ), knock Knee (genu valgus), bow legged ( genu varum ), pigeon toed (intoeing) or duck feet (outoeing). 

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Structural issues : 

Structural issues are addressed with manual therapy treatment using osteopathy techniques. The adjustments can be done on all parts of the body including pelvis, spine, hips, neck, legs and arms. 

 

Digestive issues: 

Visceral manual therapy can help with irritable bowel syndrome, hiatus hernia, acid reflux etc. Visceral therapy targets the mobility, blood flow and connective tissues surrounding organs. Our organs are connected through the connective tissues. Issues with mobility of our organs, can lead to restrictions elsewhere in the body and unpleasant digestive symptoms. Visceral manipulation of ligament, fascia and muscle release strains, tensions and restore function of the organs. 

 

Breathing disorders : 

Patients suffering from Asthma, COPD, emphysema, post-covid, bronchitis can benefit from visceral therapy. Personalized treatment can assist in restoring rib cage and diaphragm movement to improve breathing pattern and capacity. 

 

Scar issues 

Whether a scar is post operative (c-section, breast surgery, abdominal surgery, knee surgery) or post trauma (following an injury) adhesions, pain and imbalance of the surrounded tissues can occur. These scars can even impact posture, movement and create other issues. Treatment of scars includes mobilization of the tissues, decreasing signals to the nervous system and increase blood flow to the area. 

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Pain (acute and chronic)

Long term pain pattern are common but not normal. Pain can reduce quality of life, affect mental health and even change freedom in mobility. Therapy includes identifying the root cause of the issue, targeted in session manual therapy as well as daily habit modification and exercises to restore health. 

 

TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders can cause head aches, jaw tension, pain, grinding, clenching, chewing issues. Therapy is used to reduce pain and tensions and restore function of the jaw articulation. 

 

Head aches and Migraine

Neurological issues and postural or stress related tension are extremely common. Manual techniques acting on the musculoskeletal and neurological systems release pressure and rebalance functions. 

 

Osteopathic manual therapy 

Considers the body as a whole as opposed to an isolated parts and issue. The goal of treatment is to maintain a holistic approach to support healing, repair and optimal body functions. The ultimate goal is to achieve natural alignment and balance of the body and mind.