Pediatric physiotherapy:

The first two years of a child are significant for their motor development. It’s during that time that children develop most of their motor skills. The development of the brain and its relation with the surrounding environment impacts a lot on overall motor development.

Newborns and young children discover their bodies mostly through movement and games. To have an optimal motor development, a child had to experiment a variety of movements and be able to explore his or her environment in different ways. However, health issues can limit their ability to play and interact with their environment, which can lead to motor delais.

For this reason, a child with a musculoskeletal injury of atypical motor control pattern should be assessed in pediatric physiotherapy. A deep screening will be done and the physiotherapist will be able to verify if the child’s stage of development is properly achieved, symmetrical and that they are appropriate for their age.

Here are some frequent reasons for consultation for newborns and young children :

• Torticollis
• Plagiocephaly
• Motor development delay
• Hypotonia / Hypertonia
• Neurological issue (ex. : cerebral palsy)
• Clubfoot
• Hip dysplasia
• Brachial plexus palsy
• Orthopedic issue (sprain, fracture)

Pediatric physiotherapy is also for older kids and teenagers. Their needs are different. Whether it’s bad posture, a sports injury or other incident, their needs are different from those of adults because their growth is not complete.

Here are some frequent reasons for consultation for children and teenagers :

• Posture issues
• Sprain
• Contusion or muscle tear
• Pain related to fast growth
• Change in walk pattern
• After an orthopedic surgery or fracture
• femoropatellar syndrome
• concussions
• Shoulder instability (luxation)
• Neurologic issue

Most of these conditions can be taken care of in physiotherapy with advice and specific exercises like strengthening and stretching.