As parents and caregivers, you know your child best their quirks, their giggles and their moods. But if something feels a little “off” when it comes to how they move, it’s okay to ask questions.
When might my child need physiotherapy?
Every child grows and develops at their own pace, but if you’ve noticed something you aren’t sure about, physiotherapy might be worth exploring.
You don’t need a referral to book an appointment with us if you’re paying privately. Your child’s GP or specialist may have already recommended paediatric physiotherapy as part of your child’s care, and we’re here to help with that next step.
Here are some common reasons why families come to one of our Life Ready Physio + Pilates clinics seeking support:
Your baby
- Would benefit from support to roll, crawl or walk
- Prefers to look or roll to one side only
- Is showing signs of fattening on one side of their head (known as plagiocephaly) or have persistent neck tilt or turn (known as torticollis)
- Has lower limb concerns such as positional talipes or suspected hip dysplasia
Your child
- Would benefit from support with coordination, ball skills (throwing, catching or rolling) or movement skills (running, jumping or skipping)
- Walks or runs with a limp, fat feet or on their toes
- Has increased fexibility impacting daily tasks
- Frequently trips or falls
- Avoids physical activities or tires quickly
- Complains of pain that does not seem related to a clear injury
- Needs some rehabilitation support after a fracture or surgery
Older children and teens
- Complains of growing pains
- Injuries during sports or playground injuries
- Seeking rehabilitation after a fracture or surgery
- Requires support for disability, neurological or genetic conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down’s Syndrome, muscular dystrophy other congenital or genetic conditions
We also support children with disabilities or developmental delays through the NDIS and other funding options. During your child’s first NDIS physiotherapy session, we’ll review their plan together and explore how physiotherapy can help them work towards their goals.
What’s involved in a paediatric physio consultation?
We begin by getting to know your child and listening to your concerns. From there, your physio will assess your child’s movement, posture, strength and coordination in a way that feels more like play than an examination like crawling, balancing, throwing, hopping or reaching for toys).
The physio may suggest play-based activities to assess and encourage movement, provide at-home strategies to build strength or coordination or confidence or offer you hands-on techniques or practical advice. Importantly, we’ll work alongside you to set realistic and achievable goals to support your child between sessions and around school, sport or daily activities.
Each session is focused on progress and not perfection and we love celebrating the small wins along the way!
Do all physios help treat children?
Any of our Life Ready physios can assess and support children, but we also have physios who have completed additional training in paediatrics for more specific or complex needs (particularly for babies or very young children). If your child needs a little extra support, we’ll make sure they’re matched with the physio who’s the best fit for their needs. That’s why it’s always helpful to share your concerns with our admin team when booking, so we can guide you in the right direction from the very beginning.
If a delayed or missed milestone, an awkward movement, or a recurring injury is playing on your mind, reach out to your local Life Ready team for a chat about how we can support you and your family and help prevent any future issues.
