Pediatric Physical Therapy
What is Pediatric Physical Therapy?
- Many infants and children with positional preferences (Torticollis, Plagiocephaly), gross motor delay (rolling, crawling, walking), mobility limitations (tightness, weakness, poor balance), or injuries struggle to meet milestones or keep up with their peers during play. Physical therapy can help build strength and movement patterns to get your child back to doing what they do best: playing!
- At TEAM 4 Kids, we truly understand and can help your child. We take a personalized approach to getting to know you and your child so we can best suit your child’s needs. We offer assessments and solutions to identify and treat the difficulties you are experiencing.
- The assessment process begins with an all-inclusive examination of your child’s development and your concerns. Based on our assessment, we recommend and offer specific therapeutic solutions proven to improve a child’s mobility, strength and endurance, and posture and balance.
- Therapy sessions are designed to look like play. This is how children learn best! They will look forward to each session as they learn and develop skills through play. TEAM 4 Kids, with its physical therapy team, aims at fully developing their gross motor skills and supporting their best growth.
Does your child need physical therapy?
- If your child is behind in acquiring the motor skills that other children their age are comfortable with, it is a good idea to consult with a Pediatric Physical Therapist. At TEAM 4 Kids, our pediatric physical therapists help children accomplish their highest motor potential through play activities. Whether it’s crawling, rolling, running, walking up stairs, kicking a ball, or balancing, our physical therapists help children reach their maximum potential in movement. Check out our milestones chart to see if your child is on track!
- Does your baby prefer to only look in one direction or feed to only one side? Do they struggle to turn their head both ways or have a flat spot developing on one side of their head? Is tummy time a daily struggle? If so, the Physical Therapy department at T.E.A.M 4 Kids can help! We have years of experience working with infants to build solid and necessary foundational skills for all the learning and moving that will come in their future. Daily, we work with infants who struggle with tummy time, only look in one direction, have difficulty lifting and turning their head, or feel stiff and uncomfortable. If you have concerns about your infant’s development, the sooner you are seen, the better.
- Physical therapists at TEAM 4 Kids are highly skilled in, but not limited to, treating common conditions such as torticollis, toe walking, gross motor delays, core strength, developmental milestones, bike riding, adaptive mobility and equipment needs, and much more.
- Our Patient Care Coordinators will walk you through every step of the process to schedule an evaluation. Many insurances do not require a referral for an evaluation. Call us to find out what you need to start today!
TEAM 4 Kids – Providing the Best Physical Therapy in the West Valley.
TEAM 4 Kids aims to help children become active and strong! By customizing our pediatric physical therapy to suit each child’s particular needs, we offer comprehensive solutions to diverse physical ailments and delays. Our team consists of Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Feeding Therapists, Behavior Analysts, and Physical Therapists. We are committed to collaborating and helping every parent improve their child’s abilities and overall growth. We are committed to helping every parent improve their child’s motor potential and overall physical development.
Interested in our groups or classes?
Infant/Toddler Development Classes
We have a variety of groups that involve parent-child interactions. These groups work on developmental skills such as socialization and gross motor development which includes rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking.
Our fitness groups are an energy-filled way to work on gross motor skills through play in a peer environment. They involve a variety of physical activities, such as running, jumping, coordination, balance, and ball skills.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
My child was born on time and does not have any medical complications but things just seem harder, what should I do?
As a parent, you are the expert on your child (whether you feel that way or not!). If your baby is struggling, we want to help. A baby’s brain is a sponge, so the sooner treatment begins, the better. Changes can usually start to be seen in a few short sessions. If you have a concern, call us to schedule a complimentary screening or an evaluation for your child.
What are some common diagnoses you treat?
PTs treat a wide variety of diagnoses, such as torticollis, premature birth, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, a chromosomal anomaly, toe walking, delayed milestones, acute injuries, spina bifida, stroke, scoliosis, post-surgery, and sports injuries. These are some of the most common.
What age groups do you service?
Our PTs treat newborns to young adults.
How long are therapy sessions?
What are the milestones that my child should be meeting?
- All children develop at a different pace, but most kids should meet major motor milestones around the same age. Below are some of the most common gross motor milestones and the age range when children typically master these skills.
- 0-2 months – Bends and straightens arms and legs alternately and together, bears weight through legs when held in standing, turns head toward voices, tracks people or objects when on stomach, elevates head 45 degrees, and turns head from side to side.
- 3-5 months – Has good head control in all positions, brings hands to midline, grabs feet with hands, brings feet to mouth for play, rolls from back to sides, begins to balance in sitting using arms to prop.
- 6-8 months – Reaches for toys when on stomach, rolls from back to stomach, belly crawls, sits unsupported and can reach for/play with toys without falling, catches self when falling out of sitting.
- 9-11 months – Crawls on hands and knees, pulls to standing at furniture, lowers from standing safely, stands for a few seconds without support, gets self into sitting from lying down.
- 12-14 months – Walks short distances without assistance, squats to pick up a toy, returns to standing without support, crawls up steps, and rolls a ball back and forth with another person.
- 15-18 months – Crawls down steps safely, walking has matured, walks on gravel, grass, and hills without falling, walks up steps with support from an adult’s finger, walks backward a few steps, and throws a ball.
- 19-24 months – runs, jumps up, forward, and down, walks up steps without support from wall or rail, kicks a ball, throws a ball overhand and underhand.
- 25-36 months – Walks down steps without support, jumping skills of up, over, forward, and off objects progress to further distances and with improved coordination, running matures, catches a ball.
- 36-48 months – Performs steps without a rail placing only 1 foot on each step, stands on 1 foot, rides a tricycle, throwing skills mature and for further distances, hops on one foot, gallops, crosses a balance beam without stepping off.
- 48-60 months – Rides a bike with or without training wheels, dribbles a ball, hops on each foot several times, skips.
- 60-72 months – Performs hopscotch, jumping jacks and jump rope. Ball skills of catching, throwing, dribbling and kicking mature. Performs sit ups and push ups.
My child was a preemie and/or has a medical diagnosis, should I wait until they should be sitting or crawling but can’t?
Don’t wait! Neuroplasticity is a fancy term for the brain’s ability to change and make new connections over time. An infant’s brain is amazing! Even a brain with visible damage on an MRI can learn to make new pathways, and a young brain can ‘rewire’ much faster than even a kindergartener. Don’t wait for your infant to hit 6 months old and not be able to sit with their hands propping or for them to reach 10 months and not be able to crawl hands and knees. Each milestone leads to the next and is important for overall development. Movement often guides communication and early delays can snowball and effect the bigger picture of development.
Why would a baby need physical therapy?
Developmental milestones are tasks that children learn as they grow. Typically, babies reach these milestones naturally as they grow and mature. Sometimes, milestones do not come as naturally to a child. A parent may notice their baby has poor head control, isn’t grasping for toys, isn’t learning to roll, or isn’t starting to sit independently. A physical therapist can work hands-on with the child and the parent to teach them how to work with their baby daily to reach new goals. Some babies have delayed milestones with no underlying medical conditions. Other times, a baby may have a diagnosis such as torticollis, premature birth, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, a chromosomal anomaly, or other medical conditions. Physical therapists are well-educated in development and movement.
My child has torticollis and prefers to only look one direction but they will be getting a reshaping helmet, that will ‘fix’ things, right?
Yes and no– a helmet can help correct the shape of your child’s head (plagiocephaly); however, there will likely still be an imbalance of neck muscle use, which will then affect movement and may lead to neglect of one side or patterns, which then prevent typical rolling or crawling. These are best addressed early, at even a few weeks, versus waiting until a child is 9 months or older and now has preferences and compensations that must be corrected.
When should my child start walking?
Most children start walking between 15 and 18 months. Some early walkers take off closer to the 12-month range, while others are perfectly on track in that “later” range. What matters most is steady progress, like pulling to stand, cruising along furniture, and standing independently. If your child is not walking by 18 months, that is a good time to talk with your pediatrician or a pediatric physical therapist.
Is toe walking normal? Will they grow out of it?
It is very common for toddlers to walk on their toes when they are first learning, especially at support surfaces, as they are accustomed to reaching for things. Many children outgrow it on their own. However, if your child is still consistently toe walking after age two, cannot put their heels down, or seems tight in their legs, it may be time for an evaluation. Pediatric physical therapy can help address muscle tightness and early movement patterns.
Why doesn’t my baby like tummy time? How do I help?
Many babies fuss during tummy time because it is hard work. Tummy time builds neck, shoulder, and core strength that is essential for rolling, crawling, and sitting. Try short sessions several times a day, get down on the floor face to face, use a rolled towel under the chest for support, or try tummy time on your chest. A few minutes at a time really add up. If, after 3 months of age, they are not tolerating more than about 3 minutes at a time, or you notice them only looking in one direction when on their belly, reach out to us for an evaluation!
Is it okay for my baby to skip crawling?
Some babies do skip traditional crawling, but crawling is important for coordination, strength, and brain development. It helps build the foundation for higher-level motor skills. If your baby is scooting, army crawling, or trying to stand before crawling on hands and knees, it is a good idea to have a pediatric physical therapist assess their movement patterns.
How do I know if my baby needs a helmet?
Helmet therapy is sometimes recommended for babies with moderate to severe flat spots on their head. Mild flattening often improves with repositioning, tummy time, and reducing time spent in containers like swings and car seats. If your baby consistently favors one side or you notice asymmetry, talk with your pediatrician or a pediatric physical therapist for guidance.
My child seems slower than other kids on the playground. Is that normal?
Every child develops at their own pace. Some are more cautious, while others are fearless climbers. If your child avoids climbing, struggles to keep up physically, tires easily, or seems less coordinated than peers, it may be helpful to get an evaluation. Early support can boost strength, confidence, and motor skills.
My child is clumsy and falls a lot. Is that normal?
Toddlers and young children often fall as they learn new skills. That is part of development. However, frequent falls beyond what seems typical, difficulty catching themselves, or trouble with balance and coordination could indicate underlying weakness or motor delays. A pediatric physical therapist can help determine if support is needed.
My child crawls up and down the stairs. When should they walk on stairs?
Many toddlers crawl on stairs first because it feels safer. Around age two, children typically begin walking up stairs with help, often stepping up one foot at a time. By around age three to four, many children can alternate feet going up and down. If your child is avoiding stairs or seems fearful, physical therapy can help build strength and confidence.
Why does my infant only look to one side?
Young babies may briefly prefer one side, but they should be able to turn their head in both directions. A strong preference or difficulty turning the head could be a sign of torticollis, which is tightness in the neck muscles. Early physical therapy is very effective and can help improve range of motion and head shape.
Is it okay that my child W sits?
W sitting (when they sit with both legs bent behind them) is common in young children because it feels stable. However, sitting this way frequently can place stress on the hips and knees, lock out their joints, and may limit core strength development. Encourage side sitting or criss-cross sitting instead. If your child prefers W sitting and struggles with other sitting positions, a pediatric physical therapist can help.