What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is recommended for children with gross motor movement limitations secondary to disability, illness or injury. PT addresses many aspects of muscle development and function. This may include strengthening muscles and increasing muscle mass, lengthening muscles to improve range of motion and flexibility, and creating or improving muscle memory that is imperative for quality and quantity of movement. Physical therapists also work to improve balance, coordination and endurance for children with challenges in these areas. Oftentimes therapy is incorporated into play using toys and equipment such as balls, swings, riding toys and balance devices. Physical Therapists are also able to manage orthotic devices and make recommendations for adaptive equipment needs/modifications. At Jacob's Ladder, our physical therapy services are provided by a licensed Physical Therapist for both our students and children seeking direct care through our therapy center.
What is the Goal of Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapists work to assess strengths and determine limitations that affect body function and movement. Physical therapy may be implemented to relieve pain as well as to prevent and limit permanent physical disabilities. Meeting developmental milestones from infancy through young adulthood is a primary goal of physical therapy. Additionally, physical therapy is designed to improve strength, range of motion, endurance, balance, coordination, repertoire of movement patterns and gross motor skill acquisition to allow a child to reach their full potential in activities at home, school and in the community. At Jacob's Ladder we will build a program to meet the needs of your child that is grounded in science, guided by love and, delivered with an unwavering commitment to see beyond diagnoses.
Why Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapy at Jacob's Ladder will assist with client services through direct intervention and treatment and home programming for students and children receiving services through the therapy center. Is your child not meeting developmental milestones or have they lost their ability to move easily? Has your child recently received a long-term diagnosis with developmental challenges? Does your child present with low muscle tone? Do they appear to have decreased endurance or strength? Does your child seem very clumsy or have difficulty with coordination and balance activities? Is your child not performing age appropriate motor skills such as walking, running, jumping, or riding a bike? If so, Physical Therapists are trained professionals that are able to assist your child in reaching their full potential by including interventions to address the following:
- Gross Motor Skill Development
- Sensorimotor Skill Development
- Flexibility and Range of Motion
- Balance and Coordination
- Body Awareness and Postural Control
- Neuromuscular Re-education
- Positioning and Handling of Infants
- Gait Training
- Home Programming
- Parent Education
Ways to Identify if Your Infant or Toddler May Need PT:
Early intervention through physical therapy is very important if delays are suspected or apparent in infants and toddlers. Services are determined through an evaluation and assessment. PT can help an infant or toddler reach developmental milestones that are delayed. If your infant or toddler presents with any of the following, you should consider a physical therapy evaluation:
- Difficulty soothing
- Does not like tummy time
- Not meeting expected developmental milestones
- Child feels “floppy” (low muscle tone)
- Asymmetry of movement or body alignment
- Poor postural control
- Poor endurance with feeding or during play
Who Do We Service?
Diagnoses often treated with PT may include, but are not limited to:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down syndrome
- Genetic Disorders
- Gross Motor Skill Delays (not reaching developmental milestones)
- Mitochondrial Disorder
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Spina Bifida
What Services Do We Provide?
Therapeutic services are provided through various modalities including, but not limited to the following:
- Therapeutic Exercises
- Gait Training
- Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
- Myofascial Release Techniques (MFR)
- Neuro-Developmental Treatment Techniques (NDT)
- Lite Gait™ Body Weight Support System (BWS)
- Adaptive Bikes
- Serial Casting
- Orthotic Management
- Adaptive Equipment Recommendations
- Theratog™ Implementation
- Aquatic Therapy
- Group Therapy Services