Helping your child grow, one step at a time.
Pediatric physical therapy is a specialized form of rehabilitative care that uses targeted exercises and equipment to support a child’s gross motor development. Physical therapists assess each child’s needs and design individualized programs to improve strength, range of motion, balance, and coordination. They guide children through large motor activities such as crawling, walking, skipping, and jumping, helping to build foundational movement skills. In addition, physical therapists can recommend adaptive equipment—such as walkers, wheelchairs, or orthotics—to enhance mobility and promote greater independence in daily life.
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Physical therapy at ATS Kids goes beyond traditional intervention by addressing the whole body system and recognizing both the sensory and mechanical needs of each child. Our physical therapy team takes a comprehensive approach—supporting the development of the child’s skeletal, neurological, and muscular systems. We focus on improving gross motor skills by targeting the root of each impairment, guiding children toward their fullest potential for participation in daily life at home, in school, and in the community.
GAIT TRAINING
STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE
How powerful and long a child can move his or her body in physical activities. Strength can be built through practice of movements or specific functional activities. Some child need more time to practice and build up their strength, and others need help for how to control and refine the strength they have as their muscles may be working too hard. The length of time a child can move is endurance. Physical therapists can help teach a child to use their body in the best and strongest way.
ORTHOTICS AND BRACING
How a child's feet are supported. Everyone's feet are different in how they support our bodies in movement. An orthotic is a type of brace that can help support the structure or alignment of a child's foot. Orthotics can be worn to help the child move their body to participate in everyday physical play. Some children walk on their tiptoes, some children walk on flat feet, some children may trip frequently or be unable to walk unless they are helped. Orthotics can help the child have structure, range of motion and physical help to stand, walk or play.
SEATING AND MOBILITY
IM is a program in which an individual uses headphones, a computer screen, and a rhythmic rhythmic beat to perform a variety of exercises while trying to stay on this beat. Studies have shown improvements in the attention and focus, coordination, control of aggression and impulsive behavior, and academic performance (math, reading, and processing speed). Diagnoses including ADD/ADHD, Apraxia/dysprazia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, brain injury, brain tumor, auditory processing disorder, cerebral palsy, dyslexia and other reading disorders, language-learning disabled, limb amputation, non-verbal learning disorder, sensory processing disorder, stuttering, and stroke, have been shown to benefit.
INTERACTIVE METRONOME
COORDINATION
How a child keeps their body upright against changes. Balance is how we keep ourselves standing, sitting or moving without falling over. A physical therapist can help determine how a child can balance in their mobility and play by teaching the child how to best strengthen, coordinate and stabilize their body.
BALANCE
TORTICOLLIS
When a child tilts or turns their head to one direction and is unable to tilt or turn it the opposite way. This is often caused by a tight muscle in the neck, typically in infants. This one-sided preference can affect how an infant learns to move in rolling, crawling and even walking. A physical therapist can help teach a family how to stretch and help the child move so their body is able to tilt and turn in all directions. The earlier a physical therapist and family can be involved in torticollis care, the better the child can learn their early movement skills without pain or preference.
When a child's head appears to be flatten or bulging on one side, and not fully round. This can happen due to a child's preference to tilt or turn their head to one direction. The child may have torticollis, which can affect how a child can move their head off the floor or support surface. A physical therapist can help teach a family how to stretch and help the child move so their head is able to tilt and turn in all directions off the floor or away from support. Sometimes child benefit from a helmet that helps reshape the head. A physical therapist can work with an orthotist to provide a helmet for the child. The earlier a physical therapist and family can be involved in plagiocephaly care, the better the child can learn their early movement skills without pain or preference.
PLAGIOCEPHALY
PHYSICAL THERAPY
How a child walks. A child may need help to learn how to take their first steps. Some child may need equipment or braces to help them walk. Some children walk on their tiptoes, or turn their feet in, or may trip a lot. Some may not be able to walk by themselves. A physical therapist can determine what is the most optimal way a child can walk, and teach them through practice.
How a child can sit or move within their home and community. A child may benefit from an individualized and adaptive seat to better be positioned in the home or at school. This can be within a wheelchair or other types specialized chairs, standers or other equipment. Child move their bodies in different ways, and a physical therapist can help determine the best way to move, and help teach them. If equipment is needed, a physical therapist can make recommendations for the best device and fit.
How a child moves their body in specific patterns with relation to timing, rhythm and sequencing. A child may need to move their arms differently than their legs to move through a game or activity. For some children, this can be hard and frustrating. Therapists can help break down an activity so the child can learn it in parts before putting it all together for a new skill. This can help a child play physical games and move their body in the best way for them to interact in their home and community.