If you are not in therapy and you are wondering if your child may be falling behind with milestones such as fine motor, gross motor, speech or sensory processing, please try our online screening tool. You will be given a survey of age-appropriate milestones for speech, language, gross motor skills, fine motor skills and sensory processing for children ages 1-6. We highly encourage early intervention. If you are noticing your child falling behind in milestones, we recommend acting early. It is important that children master gross motor skills early so they have a good foundation to continue to grow and mature with more advanced skills.
Pediatric Physical Therapy
Physical therapy addresses movement and mobility of the body. We work to prevent, improve or manage a condition for short and long-term health benefits for our patients. PTs examine each patient and develop an individualized plan, using treatment techniques to promote movement, balance, and coordination, reduce pain, restore or gain function, and prevent or decrease disability.
Custom Evaluations
Therapeutic Exercises and Play
Parent Training and Education
Meet Goals and Milestones
What is Pediatric Physical Therapy?
A pediatric physical therapist helps children learn to attain a variety of skills and milestones. If a child has an injury at birth, a broken bone, recent surgery they are recovering from, delay in development, or a illness or disorder within the body- they will likely benefit from physical therapy. Physical Therapists (PT) help children by improving their range of motion, flexibility, strength, endurance, and movement patterns. Physical therapy teaches children how to understand their bodies in the way that in moves and functions so that they can engage in everyday activities to the best of their abilities.
What Skills Are Learned in Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy works with the child on a wide range of skills, what your physical therapist will work on with your child depends on their age, diagnosis, and specific needs. Below are some of the common skills a physical therapist may work on per age level.
Infants
Rolling Over
Sitting up (by 8 months)
Crawling (by 12 months)
Walking (by 18 months)
Bilateral Movement
Toddlers
Walking
Climbing Stairs
Toe walking
Irregular Gait Patterns
Elementary
Hopping
Skipping
Jumping
Riding a Bike
Balance and Strength
Teenagers
Sport Injuries
Strength and Endurance
Growing Pains
Overuse Injuries
Flexibility
Physical therapy works with children from infancy to adolescence to enhance function, motor development and increase participation as well as improve strength and endurance. Common diagnosis that physical therapists work with include autism, down-syndrome, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and spina bifida. Other common conditions include nerve pain, low or high muscle tone, generalized weakness, motor planning, assistive technology, corrective posture and positioning as well as movement and mobility concerns. Physical therapy can also be very beneficial to individuals recovering from a recent surgery and orthopedic injuries such as a recently broken arm or leg.
Our physical therapists at Texarkana Therapy Center are committed to making a fun and safe environment for children to learn and grow. We understand that learning that your child has a new diagnosis or disability can be scary. Our staff are committed to making treatment a seamless process so that your child can progress with the best therapy available to them in Texarkana.
For more information on how to start your evaluation process, we encourage you to email us at [email protected] or visit our Contact Page. To Learn more about Texarkana Therapy Center and our Pediatric Program. Our team of Texarkana’s best physical, speech, and occupational therapists are here to help you with every step along the way.
