What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy (PT) is recommended for children who have gross motor movement limitations secondary to illness, disability, or injury. PT’s are able to help strengthen muscles, gain range of motion, and improve balance and coordination; with the goal of improving mobility and function. Because we specialize in working with children from birth to 18 years of age, therapy is incorporated into play utilizing toys such as: therapy balls, various swings, and riding toys. Our goal is to assess a child’s strengths and then maximize on them to help a child reach their full potential in activities at school, home, and in the community. If a child is unable to crawl or walk on their own, we can help determine what type of adapted equipment, walker or crutches will help them improve their mobility.
Why Physical Therapy?
Where do you turn when your child is behind in meeting developmental milestones, loses their ability to move easily, or receives a diagnosis with long-term developmental implications? Physical therapists are here to help you and your child through direct intervention and home programming. Partnering with you, our goal is to help your child reach their optimal potential to explore their environment through movement, one step at a time. Our physical therapists develop treatment sessions that meet the needs of each child, and include a variety of strengthening, stretching, coordination, and balance activities. Physical therapy is hard work yet fun at In Harmony Pediatric Therapy!
Physical Therapy at In Harmony Pediatric Therapy
Diagnoses that are often treated with physical therapy may include but are not limited to:
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Genetic Disorders
- Gross Motor Delays
- Mitochondria Disorder
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Spina Bifida
- Torticollis
Adaptive Equipment and Special Programs:
Physical Therapy Groups
Body Weight Support System (BWS)
Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT)
TheraTogs™
Adaptive Bike
What is an adaptive bicycle and why is it used?
An adaptive bicycle is similar to a regular bicycle but it has been modified to be used by patients who need assistance. Adaptive bikes can be used to increase mobility, to stretch muscles and to create movement that may not be possible otherwise.
Equipment Evaluation Needs
What are equipment evaluations?
Many of our patients have chronic issues that dictate their need for assistive equipment to promote their mobility independence. We make recommendations about when a patient may need a device (i.e. a wheelchair, walker, crutches, etc.) We partner with equipment vendors to provide demo equipment, assess for patient needs, and provide equipment needs here at our facility.
Orthotics Fittings
In Harmony Pediatric Therapy has a partnership with Hanger, Inc., a Georgia based orthotics and prosthetics company, to provide extremity and other bracing needs for our patients. They come to In Harmony and work directly with the family and therapists to fit for the most appropriate orthotic.