Daffodil Hospital & Research Center

Physiotherapy Treatment => Pediatric Physiotherapy => Topic started by: Dr. Sushanta Kumar Ghose on January 03, 2023, 09:38:51 AM

Title: Principles of Pediatric Physiotherapy
Post by: Dr. Sushanta Kumar Ghose on January 03, 2023, 09:38:51 AM
Introduction
Physiotherapists who work in the field of pediatrics provide support and treatment services to the pediatric population. They understand well that children are very different from adults. These health professionals have a good understanding of typical Child Development and how this relates to body systems and functions.   

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While pediatric physiotherapists use many of the generic skills of physiotherapy, they use further skills and training within the field of development and growth to treat infants through to teenagers.

Who do paediatric physiotherapists treat?
Paediatric physiotherapists are specialists in the assessment, identification, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of movement and physiological issues. They treat children (infants up until the age of 19 years) in the areas of orthopedics, congenital malformations, neurology, neuropsychiatry, breathing and prematurity. This includes developmental delay, neuromotor and/ or neuromotor problems.

Where do paediatric physiotherapists treat?
Domains of treatment can include in-hospital, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and within the home environment.

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Physiotherapy treatment is vast and extensive and can go along the life of the child as the child grows. The needs of the child change as they grow and so does the treatment plan. A physiotherapist has to access the child's home, school or community area for any modifications to be done/advised for the community area or treatment plan, in order to achieve maximal daily living activity independence in accordance with the child's educational, social and cultural needs.

Goals of treatment
Goals of treatment focus on components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). In particular that of participation and activity performance. This is done through addressing pain management, improving strength and endurance, as well as providing the learning opportunities needed for skill acquisition.

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Following the Family Centered Intervention and Early Diagnosis model, a paediatric physiotherapist will work in a team in order to treat a child. This team will comprise the family, as well as other health professionals. These professionals may include a paediatrician, neurologist, nurse, occupational therapist, psychologist, play therapist, pharmacist, nutritionist, teachers, etc.

Some benefits of Paediatric Physiotherapy
While it must be noted that the benefits of physiotherapy are many, there is little high level sustaining evidence for this.

Common Treatment Approaches And General Principles of Treatment
An extensive span of treatment approaches is used by physiotherapists in the paediatric field. In each case, careful assessment determines the treatment approach and program.

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Examples of Specific Treatments Approaches
Where possible, play-based therapy is incorporated to motivate the child and improve functionality.

Principles of Paediatric Physiotherapy Summary

Author: Sushanta Kumar Ghosh, Physiotherapy Specialist, DIU Medical Center