Physiotherapy is equally important for children and adults. Although we may believe that children recover from injuries more easily, their growth and development require special care. Children’s physical and neural systems demand special care during growth. Physiotherapists play a vital role in a child’s health and well-being. Children may experience difficulties with physical development due to illness, disability, or injury. A pediatric physiotherapist uses various methods, such as exercise, stretching, and movement training, to treat children effectively. They also provide education and engage children in play to help improve their motor skills. Here are some reasons parents should consider pediatric physiotherapy for their children.
Benefits of Children's Physiotherapy
1) Effective for Serious Physical Issues
Pediatric physiotherapy not only helps children develop motor skills and recover from injuries but also positively impacts their lives. It can also help children suffering from serious conditions that affect their physical capabilities. The therapy can be used to treat newborns and children with Down syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, developmental coordination deficits, hypotonia, and other genetic disorders. Physiotherapy clinics can help children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, achieve their physical health.
2) Reduce Chronic Pain
Children may experience chronic pain due to various reasons, such as disorders, traumas, or illnesses. Physical therapy is an effective treatment option that can help children recover from chronic pain. It aims to prevent or reduce the pain experienced by children. A physical therapist can help manage chronic pain through relaxation techniques such as stretching, strengthening exercises, and movement. They analyze each child’s condition and provide suitable treatment to reduce pain.
3) Muscle and Bone Injuries can be Healed
Pediatric physical therapy is a beneficial treatment for children who are recovering from injuries or surgeries. While rest, compression, ice, and support can heal the injury and reduce pain, pediatric physical therapy helps children improve their muscle strength, restore full range of motion, and prevent future injuries. With the help of a professional and experienced pediatric physiotherapy in Surrey, your child can make remarkable progress in a short time.
4) Help to Improve the Performance in Schools
Sometimes children may experience discomfort in class due to poor seating arrangements and a lack of physical activity, but because it is painless, it remains untreated. This can result in poor quality sleep, reduced cognitive performance, an inability to focus, and the late submission of assignments. This can negatively impact their academic performance and overall well-being. Physical therapy can help to improve a child’s physical and mental health, as well as create a positive learning environment that promotes academic performance and overall health.
5) Genetic Disorders
Pediatric physical therapy is a safe way to improve strength and develop skills for children with genetic disorders like Down syndrome. Children with Down syndrome usually have weaker muscles, looser ligaments, and less strength. If your child suffers from Down syndrome, they can participate in the same activities and perform the same tasks as other children. However, they may feel movement inefficiencies and foot pain due to weak ligaments and poor muscle tone. By teaching efficient movement patterns, children with Down syndrome can avoid stress on their bodies while learning motor skills.
6) Enhance Level of Awareness
Physiotherapists can help children better understand their body, including tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones, and tissues. They will conduct some required tests to analyze the normal developing pain and report it to their parents. The participants will also learn the proper techniques for their favorite sports, which can help prevent injury and improve their performance. Overall, physiotherapy is a helpful method for children’s physical health and well-being.
7) Recovery from Orthopaedic Conditions
It’s common for children to experience falls and injuries during their childhood that can result in musculoskeletal problems, such as fractures, scoliosis, gait irregularities, and juvenile arthritis. These problems can cause pain and discomfort and affect their ability to perform activities such as walking, crawling, and climbing. Regular physiotherapy sessions can also help your children develop strength and flexibility through specific exercises, which can increase their independence in these activities.
8) Recovery from Head Injury
If your child has suffered a head injury, pediatric physical therapy can help children recover from head injuries by improving their gross motor skills, which are the large muscle groups that control movement in the body. These skills include walking, running, jumping, and other activities that require coordination, balance, strength, and flexibility. Children who experience brain injuries may lose certain abilities. The treatment plan developed by a pediatric physical therapist may include exercises and activities that are designed to improve the child’s gross motor skills.
9) Overuse Injuries
Repeated stress on joints and muscles can lead to overuse injuries that affect bones, muscles, tendons, or ligaments. They typically start with mild discomfort or pain but gradually worsen to the point where medical care or physiotherapy is needed. Children are more sensitive to overuse injuries due to their developing bodies. If your child is suffering from an overuse injury, pediatric medical treatment and physical therapy may help in proper healing and possibly prevent long-term complications. It is important to treat overuse injuries in children at an early stage, as it helps build healthy bones and avoid any future injuries.
10) Avoid Physical Complications
Children may not always heal faster than adults, but this isn’t always the case. This misconception can cause medical problems. For instance, parents may think that applying cold packs or using tensor bandages is enough treatment for their child’s ankle sprains. Therefore, the child may continue to participate in physical activities or sports before they have fully healed. This can increase the risk of re-injury or even more serious injuries. It is important to seek proper medical attention and follow a physical therapist’s advice for the child’s recovery.
Conclusion
Pediatric physical therapy can benefit children by improving their range of motion, reducing pain, aiding recovery from injuries, preventing medical diseases, and helping them reach developmental milestones. If your child is in pain, instead of giving them more pills, consider visiting physiotherapists in Surrey, BC. At Khalsa Physiotherapy Clinic, our skilled physical therapists can help your child achieve their goals, manage pain and symptoms, and improve their motor skills with personalized care.
