Common Conditions Treated by Pediatric Physical Therapy

As pediatric physical therapists, we work with children of all ages to address a wide variety of conditions that affect their physical development and motor skills. From newborns to school-aged children, physical therapy plays a crucial role in helping kids overcome challenges and reach their developmental milestones. Whether it's a congenital condition, injury, or developmental delay, pediatric physical therapy provides tailored treatments that focus on improving strength, mobility, coordination, and overall function.

In this post, we’ll discuss some of the most common conditions treated by pediatric physical therapy and how PT can help children improve their physical abilities, build confidence, and thrive.

1. Developmental Delays

Developmental delays occur when a child’s motor skills, such as sitting, crawling, standing, and walking, are delayed compared to age-appropriate milestones. These delays can vary from mild to more severe and may be related to a variety of factors, including muscle weakness, coordination issues, or neurological conditions.

Pediatric physical therapists work with children who are delayed in achieving these milestones. For example, if a child is not sitting up by 8 months or not walking by 16 months, physical therapy can help. A therapist will use play-based activities and exercises to build strength, coordination, and motor planning skills to help the child catch up to their peers.

Early intervention is key in treating developmental delays. The earlier a child begins physical therapy, the more time and cost effective it can be in helping them, and can reduce the need for more serious intervention in the future. 

2. Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the nervous system and causes delays in movement and coordination, often caused by brain injury or abnormal brain development during pregnancy or early infancy. Children with CP may have difficulty with muscle control, balance, and coordination, and may experience tightness or weakness in their muscles, causing difficulty with walking or running, or poor posture.

Pediatric physical therapy plays a critical role in helping children with CP improve mobility and motor function. Pediatric therapy focuses on building muscle strength, increasing flexibility, and promoting better coordination through exercises that targets their gross motor skills. In many cases, physical therapy can help children with CP develop skills such as standing, walking, and participating in daily activities increasing the child’s independence. 

The goal of physical therapy is to help children with CP improve their quality of life by maximizing their functional abilities and preventing secondary complications like contractures or joint deformities, which are painful for the child and often require bulky equipment and/ or surgeries to address.

3. Torticollis (Wry Neck)

Torticollis is a condition in which a child’s head tilts to one side due to tight neck muscles. This condition is often present at birth and can occur when an infant is positioned in a certain way in the womb or during a difficult delivery. Torticollis may also develop after birth as a result of muscle tightness, abnormal posture, or injury.

Pediatric physical therapists treat torticollis through specific stretching and strengthening exercises designed to improve neck mobility and correct abnormal head positioning. Physical therapy also includes strategies to encourage the child to turn their head in both directions, which can help prevent developmental delays related to vision and movement.

In mild cases, physical therapy can resolve the condition in a few months. In more severe cases, early intervention is essential to prevent long-term issues such as flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly), scoliosis, visual impairments leading to reading delays, or asymmetrical motor development. These impact a child’s comfort in daily activities, ability to keep up with peers in academics, and ability to play sports safely.

4. Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly)

Flat head syndrome, or plagiocephaly, occurs when an infant's head becomes flattened on one side, usually due to prolonged pressure on one area of the skull. This can happen if a baby is positioned asymmetrically in the womb or if the baby spends too much time lying on their back, especially during sleep. This is why it is often seen in babies who are not yet able to roll over or sit up on their own.

Pediatric physical therapy can help babies with plagiocephaly by encouraging more movement and positioning to reduce pressure on the skull. Physical therapists may also work on strengthening the neck muscles and improving head control, which helps the child maintain a more symmetrical head position. In some cases, PT may be used coupled with a helmet (often referred to as a DOC band) if necessary.

Unfortunately, plagiocephaly is not ‘just cosmetic,’ and is associated with other detrimental long term issues, including developmental delays, social emotional delays, asymmetric ear height that would impede proper glasses fitting, improper coverage of brain with standard sized helmets (leading to higher risk of head injury) and jaw pain.

With early intervention, most children with plagiocephaly see significant improvement and can avoid long-term physical or developmental complications.

5. Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a condition in which a child’s hip joint doesn’t develop properly, causing the ball of the hip joint to not fit securely into the socket. This condition can lead to instability in the joint, and if left untreated, it can result in difficulty walking, pain, dislocation, or even arthritis later in life.

Pediatric physical therapy for hip dysplasia often involves exercises to strengthen the muscles around the hip joint, improve range of motion, and promote proper alignment and posture. PT can also help children who have undergone hip surgery or wear a harness (such as a Pavlik harness) to correct hip dysplasia.

The goal of physical therapy is to help the child develop strength and mobility to prevent the joint from becoming stiff or misaligned and to improve overall walking and movement patterns.

6. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may experience challenges with motor skills, coordination, balance, and sensory processing. They might struggle with tasks such as walking on flat feet, running without tripping or falling, jumping, or engaging in play with other children.

Pediatric physical therapists work with children with ASD to improve physical abilities and promote social engagement through activities that encourage movement and body awareness. PT often involves a combination of exercises, games, and structured play that help children develop gross and fine motor skills while also improving coordination and body control.

In addition to motor skills, pediatric physical therapists also work on sensory integration. This may involve techniques to help children become more comfortable with certain types of movement, touch, or textures, which can help them become more confident in their physical abilities and can encourage them to explore the world around them.

7. Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the spinal column does not close completely, which can result in varying degrees of paralysis or weakness in the legs and trunk. Depending on the severity, children with spina bifida may need assistance with mobility, balance, and coordination.

Pediatric physical therapy plays a key role in helping children with spina bifida improve their strength, flexibility, and mobility. PT includes exercises to strengthen the legs, improve balance, and enhance walking skills, often with the help of assistive devices like braces, walkers, or wheelchairs.

The focus of physical therapy for children with spina bifida is to help them achieve the highest level of independence and functional mobility possible, while also preventing complications such as contractures or pressure sores.

8. Sports Injuries

As children become more active and involved in sports, they are at risk for sports-related injuries, such as sprains, strains, fractures, and overuse injuries. These injuries can affect a child’s mobility and physical development, especially if they are not treated properly.

Pediatric physical therapists work with children recovering from sports injuries to help them regain strength, flexibility, and coordination. Treatment may include exercises to rehabilitate the injured area, promote healing, and restore normal movement patterns. PT also focuses on preventing future injuries by improving posture, strength, and body mechanics.

In addition, pediatric physical therapists help athletes develop the skills needed to safely return to their sport, ensuring that they can perform at their best while minimizing the risk of re-injury.

Conclusion

Pediatric physical therapy plays a vital role in treating a wide variety of conditions that affect a child’s ability to move, play, and reach developmental milestones. Whether it’s addressing developmental delays, neurological conditions like cerebral palsy, or recovery from an injury, physical therapy helps children build the strength, mobility, and coordination they need to thrive. By providing early intervention and individualized treatment plans, pediatric physical therapists support children in achieving their full potential.

If your child is experiencing any of the conditions mentioned above or you have concerns about their physical development, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Moving and Grooving directly. Early assessment and intervention can make a significant difference in helping your child succeed and live a happy, healthy life.