Does My Child Need Physical Therapy?

Signs Your Child May Benefit from Physical Therapy

Your child’s development is a journey filled with milestones, and sometimes they may need a little extra support along the way. Physical therapy can play a crucial role in helping children overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Here are some signs that your child may benefit from pediatric physical therapy:

• Preference for One Side: If your child consistently favors using one side of their body over the other before the age of one, it could be a sign of underlying issues that physical therapy can address.
• Muscle Issues: Tightness, weakness, or abnormalities in muscle tone can impact your child’s movement and coordination. Physical therapy can help improve muscle strength and flexibility.
• Torticollis or Plagiocephaly: These conditions affect the neck muscles and head shape, often resulting from positioning in the womb or during infancy. Physical therapy can help correct these issues and prevent long-term complications.
• Poor Head Control: Difficulty maintaining or controlling their head movements can affect your child’s ability to explore their environment. Physical therapy can strengthen neck muscles and improve head control.
• Developmental Positioning: If your child struggles to move into or out of certain positions, it may indicate issues with muscle strength or coordination. Physical therapy can help your child learn to move more freely and comfortably.
• Tummy Time Intolerance: Tummy time is crucial for building core strength and preventing flat spots on your baby’s head. If your child seems uncomfortable or distressed during tummy time, physical therapy can help them learn to tolerate and enjoy this essential activity.
• Walking Habits: Walking on tiptoes or other unusual walking patterns can indicate muscle imbalances or neurological issues. Physical therapy can address these issues and promote more typical walking patterns.
• Crawling Patterns: Unusual crawling patterns, such as crawling with one leg out to the side, bear crawling, or spider-man crawling, may indicate issues with muscle strength, coordination, or sensory processing. Physical therapy can help your child develop more typical crawling patterns.
• Weight Bearing: Refusal to bear weight through their legs when supported in a standing position can indicate issues with muscle strength, joint mobility, or sensory processing. Physical therapy can help your child learn to bear weight and eventually stand and walk independently.

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If your child demonstrates any of these behaviors, your child may benefit from our team to help them meet their current and future motor milestones. Physical therapy can look very different for each individual. Depending on the concerns, the frequency of visits can range from twice per week to once per month.

Ask about our free consultation to see how we can support you and to determine if physical therapy is appropriate for your child.  Pediatric physical therapy is an excellent tool to utilize for your child’s development. We provide interventions such as parent education, stretches, exercises, positioning, massage, as well as incorporating toys and equipment to enhance your child’s overall development.