| For those who are under the age of 18 years, a | | | | to ensure that the growth rate is enhanced and |
| children's physiotherapist would be required to deal | | | | brought to the normal category soon. |
| with any kind of problem that needs this sort of | | | | 3. Areas of physiotherapy for children |
| therapy. Sometimes children injure themselves | | | | Children sometimes require therapy with regard |
| and this calls for physiotherapy too. | | | | to their speaking abilities and language |
| 1. What requires the physiotherapist's assistance | | | | development too. Other areas that need therapy |
| If the problem is not due to an illness or a | | | | are the lungs and chest therapy, therapy for the |
| disorder by birth, then there is usually an injury | | | | bones or orthopedic therapy and massage of the |
| that is not healing that calls for the help of a | | | | affected areas. Children of different age groups |
| physiotherapist. These problems could be broken | | | | require physical therapists to help them with |
| bones, sprains, injuries to joints or even surgery | | | | various problems. A physiotherapist helps kids with |
| related problems. Unlike the fully grown adult | | | | posture education, safe stretches, joint |
| body, a child's body is still developing and needs to | | | | manipulation, mobilization and exercises. They also |
| be taken care of properly to ensure that the | | | | have methods of assisting children and helping |
| defect does not hamper their growth progress | | | | them to live with and cope with down syndrome, |
| and their activities. If this is neglected it will retard | | | | dyspraxia, multiple sclerosis, muscle weakness, |
| the child's motivation too and the child will feel left | | | | allergies, headaches, injuries of the spine, cystic |
| behind and not even try to better his | | | | fibrosis, cerebral palsy and many other disorders |
| performance. | | | | and diseases that effect children. |
| 2. How does a children's physiotherapist begin | | | | 4. Manual methods of physiotherapy |
| treatment? | | | | Those who have undergone training in |
| Just like treatment for adults, even for children | | | | physiotherapy and are fully qualified in this method |
| the first and foremost thing to be done is a | | | | of treatment, use massage therapy to sooth the |
| proper diagnosis of the problem. Once the | | | | areas that are affected and also to strengthen |
| physiotherapist has ascertained the root of the | | | | muscles and bones and to get rid of the pain in |
| problem then the therapy begins. The therapist | | | | the affected areas. Apart from the massage |
| has to consider sever factors in the treatment of | | | | they also use equipment like ultrasound instead of |
| children such as emotional and mental health, | | | | injections, narcotics and drugs to relieve the |
| nutrition and eating habits, motor skills and the | | | | discomfort and pain and also swellings. Qualified |
| growth and development of the child physically. | | | | physiotherapists also train parents to use the |
| A pediatrician studies the early development of an | | | | different techniques to help their children especially |
| infant from birth to see if the muscles are | | | | if it is difficult to find a physiotherapist in the areas |
| developing properly. In new borns this is essential | | | | where they reside. |
| of the neck muscles to see if the head is | | | | Physiotherapy for children encompasses many |
| supported sufficiently and if the child can raise the | | | | areas that are required for the development of |
| head. The movements of a child are a clue to the | | | | children, like the circulatory system, respiratory |
| development of the organs, muscles and bones. If | | | | system, muscles and bones and tendons. This will |
| the growth rate is satisfactory it is fine, but if this | | | | assist the child in their growth and well being right |
| is lagging behind for some reason then the cause | | | | through their life. |
| will have to be found out and treatment started | | | | |