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Physiotherapy is the holistic treatment of people to maximise, restore and maintain their physical strength, function, motion, and overall well-being. A paediatric physiotherapist uses exercises, movement, and assistive equipment to help children improve their muscle strength, posture, mobility, balance, strength, function, and fitness. This can help children fulfil their potential in terms of reaching developmental milestones, improving function, independence and quality of life.
Children should be assessed properly to ensure they are fitted with the right sized equipment and correct exercises which support their needs and ability.
While it is nice to have expensive apparatus to assist with activities, equipment can be fashioned out of cheap material lying about or by using furniture in the home. Bottles of water can be used for weights, or socks filled with sand, bottle tops can be used as counters and for fine motor skills. Shakers can be made from containers with some beans or gravel in them. Plastic cups and jugs can be used to pour water or beans into a container. Sticks can be used to assist walking etc.
Physiotherapy exercises can all be incorporated into activities of daily living to help a child improve their function and independence, whether it's guiding them to use a spoon or cup or using stretches to help them get dressed. Caregivers are vital in engaging children with simple games using stories, singing and clapping which encourage coordination and hand skills and don't need any equipment at all.
A child working with the physiotherapy assistant on fine motor skills, coordination and sitting balance all at the same time.
Encouraging a child to stretch for the ball while sitting unsupported tests their balance and strengthens their core muscles. Core muscles (postural muscles) are particularly important for supporting the trunk and limbs and helping the body to balance when sitting and standing.
Regular stretches help maintain and improve joint range of movement, lubricate joints, lengthen muscles and give pain relief. Stretches for children with CP are very important to help reduce secondary problems such as contractures, scoliosis, hip dislocation and pressure sores.
A child can have great fun doing physio, without even realising they are improving fine motor skills, sitting balance, core muscles, stretches, coordination, function and cognition. Here the physiotherapy assistant uses playing with a ball and early reading skills as exercises to encourage hand eye coordination.
Aerobic exercises are used to help get children fit. Fitness is a combination of strength, flexibility, and stamina. It improves breathing, circulation, bladder, and bowel function. Fitness improves physical and mental health and a child’s quality of life. Games are a great way of encouraging a child to move and raise their heart rate a little.
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