What is Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Pediatric physical therapy focuses on helping children develop and improve gross motor skills, strength, coordination, and mobility to increase their overall independence. From newborns to adolescents, pediatric physical therapists assess age-appropriate motor tasks and design individualized treatment plans tailored to each child’s specific needs. Therapy sessions often focus on strength, balance, flexibility, posture, endurance, coordination, tone management, and motor planning to enhance movement efficiency, improve posture, and promote safety.
How is Pediatric Physical Therapy Different from Adult Physical Therapy?
Pediatric physical therapy is play-based and incorporates structured and unstructured activities to engage children while promoting movement development. Unlike adult therapy, which often focuses on rehabilitation following an injury or surgery, pediatric therapy addresses childhood development, movement disorders, and motor skill challenges in a way that is engaging and age-appropriate.
Therapists use everyday objects and specialized equipment to challenge each child and help them reach their full potential. Family involvement is essential, as therapists collaborate with parents and caregivers to develop individualized programs, provide education, and offer support for ongoing progress at home.
What Are the Goals of Pediatric Physical Therapy?
- Help children reach their full potential and gain functional independence
- Improve motor skills, coordination, and motor planning
- Enhance balance, stability, strength, and endurance
- Increase participation in social and recreational activities
- Promote safety, health, and overall wellness
Common Pediatric Physical Therapy Interventions
Physical therapy treatment plans are customized to each child’s specific needs and may include:
- Therapeutic exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and movement patterns
- Parent and caregiver education for at-home support and progress
- Functional mobility training to enhance movement efficiency
- Adaptive equipment and assistive technology recommendations
- Range of motion exercises to prevent stiffness and improve flexibility
- Proprioception and balance training to improve body awareness and stability
How is Physical Therapy Different from Occupational Therapy?
While physical therapy (PT) focuses on gross motor skills—helping children improve movement, balance, and coordination—occupational therapy (OT) works on fine motor skills and daily activities such as dressing, feeding, and handwriting.
| Physical Therapy | Occupational Therapy |
|---|---|
| Crawling, walking, running | Dressing, feeding, toileting |
| Balance, jumping, skipping | Writing, coloring, cutting |
| Strengthening and endurance | Fine motor control and grip strength |
| Posture and positioning | Sensory processing and self-regulation |
| Ball play (throwing, catching, kicking) | Visual perception and coordination |
Will My Child Need Both Physical and Occupational Therapy?
Each child’s needs are unique. Some children benefit from both therapies, as PT and OT target different skills necessary for overall development. A professional evaluation can determine which therapy or combination of therapies will best support your child’s growth and independence.
If you think your child may benefit from pediatric physical therapy, contact Chicago Kids Therapy today to schedule an evaluation and learn how we can help them gain confidence, strength, and mobility.
