What Is Pediatric Physical Therapy?

By Linda Thunn, DPT, physical therapist at DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services

Did you know October is National Physical Therapy Month?  Each year during October, the physical therapy team at DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services (DMG CRS) supports the Spina Bifida Association of Arizona through their annual Walk-N-Roll® fundraiser.  The team is passionate about serving patients I and outside of the clinic.

What do pediatric physical therapists do?

Pediatric physical therapists provide services for children with developmental disabilities from birth to 21 years-old; in addition, the team provides support and education to the patient’s family.  At DMG CRS, our goal is to develop, restore and/or improve mobility to enhance quality of life for the child and his/her family.

Pediatric physical therapy benefits children and their families and/or caregivers by promoting activity and participation in everyday routines, increasing functional independence, improving strength and endurance, facilitating motor development and mobility, and easing the challenges of daily caregiving.

The team has also begun serving adults with disabilities who may benefit from the services specifically available through DMG CRS.

DMG CRS physical therapists treat patients one-on-one in the physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic at DMG CRS as well as serve patients being treated at other DMG CRS clinics such as:

• Amputee clinic
• Cystic fibrosis
• Myelomeningocele Planning Clinic (pediatric, transition and adult)
• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Spasticity Planning and Follow-up Clinic

DMG CRS physical therapists also perform equipment evaluations, trialing each child in specialized equipment before ordering it to determine what works best. Types of equipment evaluations provided include:

• Adaptive seating
• Adaptive car seats
• Forearm crutches
• Gait trainers
• Standers
• Walkers
• Wheelchairs

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