Pediatric physical therapy specializes in services for children and teens. The NAPA Center, with its reputation as a world-renowned pediatric physical therapy clinic, provides this overview of pediatric physical therapy:
"Pediatric physical therapy is essentially various workouts and exercises that focus on certain muscles and movements, which are aimed at strengthening muscles and tendons.
Physical therapy is very similar to going to the gym and working with a personal trainer, although the physical therapists that your child will work with are specifically trained and experienced in pediatric diagnoses and injuries."
The APTA promotes the services of pediatric physical therapists to improve children's abilities to achieve independent functionality and active participation in their home and school environments. Pediatric physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapy assistants (PTAs) collaborate with children and their families by:
- Promoting independence
- Increasing participation
- Facilitating motor development and function
- Improving strength and endurance
- Enhancing learning opportunities
- Easing challenges with daily caregiving
Similarly, the physical therapists at Children's TherAplay work with children on the following:
- Improving gross motor skills: These skills are dependent on large muscle groups that provide balance for developmental milestones, such as crawling, standing, walking, running, and jumping.
- Strengthening core muscles and extremities: Stability in joints, shoulders, and the pelvic girdle are crucial to everyday life.
- Developing motor-planning skills: These skills are fundamental to activities requiring coordination, which children engage in frequently, such as hopping on one foot, skipping, dancing, and climbing on playground equipment.
According to Nemours Children's Health, physical therapists engage children in exercises and treatments to address problems with movement and mobility that impair daily activities. These exercises and treatments may include any of the following:
- Adaptive play
- Aquatic therapy
- Balance and coordination activities
- Developmental activities (e.g., crawling, walking)
- Flexibility exercises to improve range of motion
- Improved circulation related to injuries through several treatments (e.g., cold, heat, electrical stimulation, exercise, massage, ultrasound)
- Provision of instruction on avoiding injuries
- Safety and prevention programs
- Strength-building exercises and training to compensate for injuries
Education and training requirements
Physical therapists follow a similar educational path, from a bachelor's degree to a graduate degree, as do other therapists, such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and behavioral therapists.
Those interested in becoming physical therapists must first earn a bachelor's degree in a relevant field involving exercise, health science, and sports. Advancing from there to a master's degree often requires prerequisite graduate courses such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, kinesiology, physics, and physiology. Once enrolled in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program, PT students typically take biomechanics, imaging, and pathophysiology courses.
In addition, doctoral PT candidates must complete hands-on clinicals varying from 1500 to 2000 hours before taking the next step after graduation. To become licensed physical therapists, candidates must pass the National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE) given by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and obtain licensure according to their respective states' requirements. Physical therapists must maintain licensure by meeting continuing education requirements (CPEs).
Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) must also complete a 2-year associate degree PTA program. PTAs typically must complete hands-on clinicals, usually lasting16 weeks. Upon graduation, PTAs must also pass a national exam administered by their respective states to obtain licensure or certification.
Conclusion
Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants play an essential role in helping children with disabilities reach their optimal physical capacity and realize their full educational potential. Through exercises and different types of workouts and treatments, PTs and PTAs help improve children's fine and gross motor coordination, balance, flexibility, and mobility, so they can more fully and successfully participate in activities at school and at home.
To learn more about the role and career path of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants, visit American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
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