Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy at a Glance:

At ATC our physical therapists help enhance your child’s strength, gross motor skills, coordination, range of motion, balance, gait, heart and lung endurance, and delayed motor development.

Our physical therapists will also assess the need for any special positioning equipment, lower extremity casts, braces and mobility aids.

  • Mobility

  • Muscle and joint function

  • Strength and endurance

  • Cardiopulmonary status

EVALUATION Assesses The Child’s:

  • Posture and balance

  • Sensory & neuromotor development

  • Use of assistive technology

Therapy:

Every child responds best to a unique, carefully crafted treatment plan, which our physical therapist creates. Our physical therapist at ATC:

- Teach children and families about safety and home exercises.

- Collaborate, coach, and consult with families, community agencies, and other service providers

- Guide children through a variety of different exercises routines and activities.

Who Can Benefit From Physical Therapy?

Doctors may recommend physical therapy for children who have difficulty moving in such a way that it limits their daily activities. Some of these conditions include:

  • Developmental delays

  • CP

  • Genetic disorders

  • Birth Defects

  • Limb deficencies

  • Muscle disease

  • Muscle tone concerns.

  • Torticollis

  • Plagiocephaly

  • Increase and maintain muscle strength and endurance

  • Increase developmental activities such as crawling and walking

  • Implement adaptive play, recreation and leisure

  • Increased flexibility to restore and increase joint range of motion

  • Increase balance coordination, movement and mobility

  • Decrease pain

  • Decrease muscle pain and spasticity

  • Decrease swelling and inflammation of joints

  • Prevent contracture and deformity of limbs

  • Promote mobility through walking or use of wheel chair

Benefits Of Physical Therapy:

  • Increase ability in daily activities such as self care and play

  • Tone management

  • Motor learning

  • Adaptation of daily care & routines

  • Equipment design, fabrication & fitting

  • Orthotics and prosthetics

  • Cardiopulmonary endurance

  • Safety and prevention programs

  • Use of assistive technology

  • Decrease stress

At ATC our physical therapists collaborate with our local community rehab engineers, and together our team members use innovative wheelchair adaptive devices, custom-designed aids and electronics to enhance the seating, positioning and specific mobility needs of the child.

Children May Benefit From Physical Therapy For A Variety Of Reasons, For Example…

  • My son isn’t able to keep up with his peers on the playground. He’s slower than others and often trips.

  • After orthopedic bracing/surgery for club feet and a dislocated hip, my son needs help to strengthen his legs and learn how to move.

  • My 3 month old daughter tilts her head to the left. At first I thought it was cute, now I’m concerned that she’s not able to look in other directions, and she’s getting a flat head.

  • Our son just got diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Who can help him?

  • After the car accident, my daughter needs to relearn how to move.

  • No diagnosis has been given, but our daughter has been behind in reaching her 1st year developmental milestones.

  • After chemotherapy, our son is really weak. Both he and I need to learn how to help him regain his strength.

  • My new born is not turning her head to both sides, and has reduced movement of her neck

  • I’m concerned about my daughter’s low endurance and overall fitness level.