Principles of Paediatric Physiotherapy

This article is currently under review and may not be up to date. Please come back soon to see the finished work! (19/11/2021)

Original Editor - Niha Mulla

Top Contributors - Niha Mulla, Lauren Heydenrych, Shaimaa Eldib and Kim Jackson  

Introduction

Peadiatric Physiotherapist have a concrete idea that, children are different composition than adults. If kids are unable to keep up with various other kids of the same age, who do those activities very easily; there might exist some developmental disorders. In such cases, physiotherapist might help with child development. Along with having generic skills for patient treatment, physiotherapist need additional clinical skills to warrant treatment of babies of infants and children.

Physiotherapist have to work with the team of peadiatrician/neurologist, nurses, occupational therapist, speech therapist, psychologist, play therapist, pharmacist, nutritionist, teachers, parents, etc. with good communication and shared goals, to attain maximal physical independence of the child.

Normal Child Development

An understanding of "Normal" is mandatory before the abnormal can be studied, identified and treated. It is also vital to recognize that at times the writ by which infants and children achieve the development is varying. Typical normal child development is summarized on our page "Child Development"

Scope of Paediatric Physiotherapy

Paediatric physiotherapist treat broad range of activity and skill disorders including Anatomical and physiological issues, developmental delays, orthopaedic/musculoskeletal anomalies, respiratory conditions, neuromuscular and neurological disorders in varying domain working in preposition of their purview of enactment.

Physical management blue prints are integrated by the physiotherapist, making the parents and care givers fell more confident about achieving child's maximal physical potential and activity independence.

Benefits of Paediatric Physiotherapy

• Improves posture and reflexes of child
• Make movement easier by training normal pattern of movements
• Improves gross motor skills
• Improves functional mobility
• Improves muscle imbalance and muscle strength
• Improves balance and coordination
• Improves range of motion
• Improves muscle tone
• Improved gait/gait training

Common Treatment Approaches And General Principles of Treatment

Extensive span of treatment approaches are used by physiotherapist in accordance with chronicity of the condition being treated.

All approaches need care assessment by the physiotherapist in both acute as well as chronic conditions. It is vital to understand that, all approaches in paediatric physiotherapy, aim towards the child living the optimum quality of life.

Some Specific Treatments Approaches

1. Bobath approach: It is a neurodevelopmental treatment used to improve Developmental Sequences, Inhibition of abnormal patterns, facilitation of normal postural control and use of sensory stimuli for inhibition or activation of muscle movement.
2. Conductive education approach: A very rigorous treatment model that concentrates on all aspects of life. This is done by a 'conductor' constantly overseeing the child activity.
3. The Margaret Rood Technique: This approach treats using superficial and deep stimulation and consists of manipulations for activation or inhibition of motor activity.
4. The temple fay technique: Normal movements pattern are activated by sequential developmental movement.
5. The Doman-Delecto technique: This technique facilitates the dormant central nervous system pathways of the brain by using consistent - repetitive movements of patterns of normal sequential developmental movement.
6. The Kabat - Knott - Voss Technique: Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation using functional movement patterns.

Play as Therapy

Play based therapy motivates the child and improves function, simultaneously. It is essential to enhance balance and improve gross motor skill.

Psychological aspect of Children

Child psychology knowledge, plays a vital role in treating children. A child may have lack of understanding due to mental impairment which can pose a huge challenge on a physiotherapist while creating a treatment regime.

Parent Support Groups

Parents should be instructed to join parent support groups so they can meet other parents and special need children with the specific condition of their child. The shared experiences help the parents in coping with their child's condition as they feel understood by other parents dealing with same difficulties as the group provides a safe place to talk. These groups can help the physiotherapist to direct the treatment as a larger picture can be drawn from group information accumulation.

Community Paediatric Physiotherapy

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 accesses the child's home, school or community area for any modifications to be done/advised for community area or treatment plan, in order to achieve maximal daily living activity independence in accordance to the child's educational, social and cultural needs.

Resources

• bulleted list
• x

or

1. numbered list
2. x