Care and support

Physiotherapy

Who are Physiotherapists?

A Physiotherapist or Physio as they are generally known will have spent 3-4 years at college learning about the body and how to help when things go wrong. Some physiotherapists work specifically with children. They are known as Paediatric Physiotherapists.

Physiotherapy and Children

Children may suffer from a wide variety of conditions not found in adults. The physiotherapists working with children have a detailed knowledge of the normal and abnormal development of children. They also have an understanding of the illnesses and conditions specific to children and a variety of treatment methods needed to deal with the many conditions of childhood.

Who Can Physiotherapists Help?

Some children will be identified at birth as needing physiotherapy. Those in intensive care with breathing difficulties will receive the attention of a physiotherapist who will help clear their lungs so they can breathe more easily. If a child has a particular problem like cystic fibrosis or cerebral palsy, the physiotherapist may well see them frequently throughout their life. Some children will see a physiotherapist because they have broken a limb or need posture correction, which may take a short time to resolve.
A child with special needs and learning disabilities whether severe, moderate or mild may benefit from the help of a chartered physiotherapist. The physiotherapist will work with the child teaching them good co-ordination and will help them develop normally.

How Can Chartered Physiotherapists Help?

When a child is first referred, the chartered physiotherapist will gather detailed information from various medical and educational sources about the child’s problems. They will also discuss any current difficulties with the child and their parents/carers before making their own assessment and deciding on the best way to help.

The physiotherapist will not look at and treat the specific condition/injury in isolation. Chartered Physiotherapists have an holistic approach to treatment, which means looking at the child’s physical and mental well being together. Throughout the treatment the physiotherapist will continually re-assess the child’s progress and develop the treatment programme accordingly.

The aims and objectives of the treatment will be explained to the child and the parents. The family members are usually asked to participate actively in the treatment programme and will be shown how best to handle the child and help them to develop.
The physiotherapist may recommend special footwear, walking aids, seating and standing frames, or any other apparatus they feel may help improve a child’s performance.

Service Description

The overall aim of the Children’s Physiotherapy Service is to work in partnership with parents and carers to optimise a child’s physical development and health, using a variety of techniques and interventions. The service is provided by experienced senior children’s physiotherapists. There is a close liaison with occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, health visitors, paediatricians, GP’s, social workers and education services.

The Service provided is a combination of the following:

Individual Assessment

Programmes of management

Carer education and training

Direct intervention

Assessment and recommendation of specialised equipment and orthotics

Reports for health and education services

The Service is provided for children, aged 0-16 years who have:

Respiratory disorders

Developmental disorders

Co-ordination disorders

Physical impairments

Learning impairments

Musculoskeletal disorders

Referrals

Referrals are accepted from:

• Consultants
• GPs
• School Medical Officers
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech and Language Therapists

Service Bases

The service is provided in the setting most appropriate to the child’s needs. This could include:

• Children’s Centres
• Schools
• Opportunity Classes
• Out patient Clinics
• Own Home
• Hospital Wards and Special Care Baby Units
• Respite Care Settings