Physical therapist working with a young boy in the clinic

Pediatric Therapy

We help children of all ages and their families reach their potential with pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

What is pediatric therapy?

Pediatric therapists support families by helping children develop the skills and mobility they need for independent functioning. Pediatric therapy treatment may include motor control and motor learning, neurodevelopmental treatment, manual therapy, strengthening, taping techniques, gait training, and aquatic therapy.

Benefits of pediatric therapy

Using play- and activity-based interventions, pediatric physical therapy helps children achieve developmental milestones like sitting, standing, crawling, and walking. Pediatric therapy happens in three key areas:

Pediatric physical therapy
Pediatric physical therapists provide evaluation, intervention, and consultation in areas including gross motor development, muscle tone and strength, posture and postural control, pre-gait and gait training, locomotion patterns, neuromuscular function, endurance, musculo-skeletal conditions byd alignment, environmental adaptations, seating and positioning, sports/dance prep or enhancement, and wellness and healthy lifestyle.

 

Occupational therapist works with a young ethnic girl

Pediatric occupational therapy
Pediatric occupational therapy for children helps them succeed in the “work” of childhood–including play, self-care, school performance, and social interactions. This can include fine motor and handwriting skills, sensory integration, motor planning, oral motor functioning, self-help skills, environmental adaptations, and play and socialization behavior.

Pediatric speech therapy
The goal of pediatric speech therapy is to help children become successful communicators and independent language learners. Programs are tailored to each child’s specific needs and can include expressive language skills, receptive language skills, speech production and articulation skills, social skills, feeding and swallowing, oral motor skills, disorders of voice, disorders of fluency, augmentative and alternative communication skills, and using and understanding gestures and facial expressions.

What can pediatric therapy help with?

Our experienced pediatric therapists help children with a wide variety of conditions, including:

  • Stroke
  • Developmental delays
  • Coordination/balance disorders
  • Torticollis/plagiocephaly
  • Surgeries or traumas
  • Neurological impairments
  • Hip disorders/developmental dysplasia of the hip/transient synovitis/juvenile idiopathic arthritis
  • Idiopathic toe walking
  •  Orthopedic conditions/sports injuries
A physical therapist is working with a child in the hospital that has cerebral palsy.

How parents can help

As your child’s parent or primary caretaker, you play an active and important role in their pediatric physical therapy program. You’ll learn how therapy techniques facilitate your child’s developmental progress. You’ll also learn how to adapt certain toys to enhance your child’s therapy needs, learn how to use therapeutic equipment correctly, and maintain regular communication with your child’s physical therapist.

What to expect

Your first physical therapy appointment is about creating a personalized treatment plan based on your health history, diagnosis, and goals. Here’s what you can expect at your first physical therapy appointment:

Your first appointment will last about an hour. Please arrive 15 minutes early.

If applicable, bring your physician referral or prescription, insurance card, paperwork, ID, and co-payment.

At your appointment, we’ll do an initial evaluation and discuss your care plan.

*Services are not available at every location. Visit our Locations page for more details.

Physical therapy insurance & payment options

We work with most major insurance providers. Although coverage will vary from plan to plan, many physical therapy, occupational therapy and speciality therapy programs are covered under insurance. Learn more about our insurance coverage and self-pay options for physical therapy.