As a pediatric physical therapist (PT), I am often asked what it is exactly that I do all day. Here’s a taste of some of the questions I get: What does a physical therapist do? What does a physical therapist do with kids? Why would my child need physical therapy?
I am always happy to hear and these questions and I love the opportunity to explain my passion for what I do.
A physical therapist provides “services that develop, maintain and restore people’s maximum movement and functional ability.”1 For a pediatric PT, the “people” are children, and “functional ability” applies to activities that allow children to participate in “work” (school) and play. I help children develop the strength, coordination, endurance and motor planning skills to maximize their potential.
I love the opportunity to work with children (and their families!) to help them develop the motor skills needed for all the things kids need and want to do. A strong foundation of gross motor skills is necessary for optimal participation in play (running, jumping, skipping, throwing, climbing, riding bikes), school (upright seated posture during class, strength and balance to navigate the school’s hallways and stairs, motor planning and coordination to play games at recess and PE ) and extracurricular activities, whether organized (team sports, dance classes, martial arts) or unorganized (playing with friends, neighbors or family at home or in the community).
Physical therapy also helps children practice the skills they are developing in other forms of therapy. For example, I frequently work on core strength with my patients. Core strength is necessary for upright posture at a desk which supports success with table-top activities like handwriting which is addressed by an occupational therapist. Increased core strength and upright posture can also benefit children participating in speech therapy as it gives the lungs more room to expand and allows the diaphragm to operate more effectively. For children in social skills groups, gross motor play and sports activities are an opportunity to engage with peers and practice the skills they learn in group (initiating conversation, turn-taking). If children have difficulty with the physical skills necessary for these games or sports, they may benefit from physical therapy to increase these skills and allow them to more fully participate in these social arenas.
I enjoy the challenge of meeting objective, clinical, “grown-up” goals in a way that is fun and engaging for the kids I work with. It is incredibly rewarding to see the joy and pride on a child’s face when he or she successfully completes a previously challenging activity as a result of the work we have done together.
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