By: Abby Wrightson and Taylor Adkins

The big picture of what pediatric physical therapy can do is to help kids play on the playground with their friends to the best of their ability. We are trained to work with kids who may have bone and muscle issues, sports-related injuries, or varying neurodevelopmental diagnoses. We can help improve mobility and function in kids with diagnoses including cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, arthrogryposis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and other genetic conditions. Our goal as physical therapists located in Richmond, Berea, and Lexington Kentucky is to help every kid do what they love. We can help through strengthening, stretching, and providing the necessary equipment needed such as orthotics or walkers. 

Tailored Therapy

For older kids, we want to make sure they have the necessary muscle strength and coordination to play with their family and friends. If a child is falling often, having difficulty keeping up with friends of the same age, or having difficulty climbing up and down stairs, physical therapy can help them have fun with friends while also being safe. As physical therapists, we also treat gait abnormalities such as toe walking.

For kids with more complex conditions, our physical therapists will always individualize each treatment to address your concerns. Goals may be more centered toward balance or “big-picture” functional skills like getting out of bed or walking to the car.

Developmental Delays

A very common issue we treat is developmental delay. This is when developmental milestones are not reached for whatever reason. Here is a general guideline of when we expect little ones to be reaching their milestones:

• Rolling – 6-7 months
• Sitting independently – 6-7 months 
• Crawling – 8-10 months
• Pulling to stand – 9-11 months
• Cruising – 10-11 months
• Walking – 12-15 months 
• Jumping – 24 months

Torticollis

Another common condition in infants is Torticollis. This occurs when there is a tightening of neck muscles that results in an infant tilting their head to one side and/or having difficulty turning their head to one side. Physical therapists can provide interventions to improve the flexibility of neck muscles and allow for further gross motor development.

How We can help

A good rule of thumb is if your child is 2-3 months or more delayed, it’s time to reach out to your pediatrician to get a physical therapy referral. Ask for a screening or evaluation as soon as you have concerns. The earlier we can treat concerns, the better. At HTP, we are here to help! Not sure if there is a concern? We offer free screenings where you can meet with a therapist who can offer recommendations! This can occur at any of our three clinics in Richmond, Berea, and Lexington, Kentucky. Have any questions? Give our clinic a call today at 859-353-3666!