What is Paediatric Physiotherapy?
What is Paediatric Physiotherapy?
Many people often wonder what Paediatric Physiotherapy is and what it involves. First and foremost, paediatric physiotherapy is physiotherapy for all children between 0 and 18 years. Additionally, here at Hoppers Physio/Western Paediatric Physiotherapy, our Paediatric Physiotherapists will also see children through transitional care into adult services and continue seeing adults with chronic and complex conditions.
What kind of conditions do Paediatric Physiotherapists see?
- Torticollis and Plagiocephaly
- Developmental delay
- Motor coordination challenges
- Hypermobility
- Hypomobility
- Low muscle Tone
- ASD and ADHD
- Cerebral Palsy GMFCS I and II
- Down syndrome
- Other congenital and developmental conditions
- General Musculoskeletal pain
How do I know if my children need a general physio or a paediatric physio?
If your child has an acute musculoskeletal injury such as an ankle sprain and is over 12 years old they are normally ok to see a general physiotherapist, if our general physiotherapists feel it is required they will seek advice from our paediatric physiotherapists or refer on as required.
For children with chronic or insidious onset (pain that comes on without a cause or explanation), it is normally best to see a paediatric physiotherapist. This is because they are equipped to assess for red flags that may warrant further investigation.
If your child is under 12 years old or has a developmental or congenital condition, they will need to see a paediatric physiotherapist, as our physiotherapists have specific skills to work with this age group and its conditions.
If you are unsure who your child needs to see, you can speak to our brilliant reception team.
What do our paediatric physiotherapists do?
Assessment and treatment vary based on what your child presents with. In general, paediatric physiotherapy focuses on specific goals and tasks. During your initial session, your physiotherapist will discuss the goals you and your child (depending on their age) want to achieve. They will then design interventions to target these goals and determine the best ways to achieve them.
If you are interested in booking a paediatric physiotherapy appointment for your child, please do not hesitate to contact our paediatric reception team on (03) 9749 5110. Alternatively, you can book an online appointment here.