Pediatric Physical Therapy Services

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders can display some gross motor deficits. Many children with ASD also exhibit language delays, difficulties with social interaction, sensory processing difficulties and other fine motor concerns.

At Orange Pediatric Therapy, our physical therapists often work with children with ASD through a team approach with our occupational therapists and speech therapists to encompass the individual child’s needs as a whole.

For more information visit www.autismspeaks.org 

Children with cerebral palsy exhibit abnormalities in muscle tone and strength which can lead to range of motion limitations, bone deformities, balance and coordination deficits. As a result, functional mobility skills (i.e. crawling, standing, walking, etc) are negatively impacted.

Our therapists work with children with CP to improve their specific limitations through specific functional programs suited to fit each child’s needs.  In addition to treatment programming, we work with families to perform adaptive equipment evaluations for wheelchairs, adaptive seating, standers, gait trainers and walking aides as well as orthotic assessments in order to achieve the maximum extent of mobility possible.

Children who exhibit developmental delays are considered to be behind their peers in achieving their gross motor milestones.

We work with children and families to determine what the delays are and why they are present by completing a comprehensive gross motor evaluation.  Treatment is geared towards improving the impairments that lead to difficulties in performing age appropriate motor skills.

Children who have been diagnosed with genetic disorders face a wide range of challenges and limitations.

Physical therapists at Orange Pediatric Therapy will work with patients and families to perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine each child’s impairments and limitations.  The individual needs of each child will be addressed through individualized therapy programs.  Referrals to occupational therapy and/or speech therapy may also be helpful to address potential concerns in those areas.

Children with JRA often exhibit joint pain and swelling as well as range of motion deficits in the affected joints.

Our team of physical therapists at OPT work closely with patients, families and physicians to reduce pain and swelling in affected joints as well as improving joint range of motion through therapeutic techniques including but not limited to passive range of motion, soft tissue massage/mobilization and functional activities as tolerated by the patient.  These children often respond well to aquatic therapy, which helps to decrease weight-bearing through painful joints while increasing the amount of movement within these joints.

Neurological impairments include diagnoses that affect the brain’s ability to transmit neurological signals to the rest of the body. Children with neurological impairments may exhibit abnormalities in muscle tone and strength which can lead to range of motion limitations, bony deformities, balance and coordination deficits.  As a result, functional mobility skills may be negatively impacted.

Our therapists work with these children to improve their limitations through specific functional programs suited to fit each individual child’s needs.  In addition to treatment programming, we work with families to perform adaptive equipment evaluations for wheelchairs, adaptive seating, standers, gait trainers and walking aides as well as orthotic assessments in order to achieve the maximum extent of mobility possible.

Neuromuscular disorders encompass diagnoses or disorders that affect one’s ability to move his/her arms, legs or trunk. This includes but is not limited to diagnoses of muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, spina bifida and myopathies.

Physical therapists at OPT will work with these patients and families to address movement impairments through strengthening, stretching, positioning, and energy conservation strategies.  Our therapists will also work closely with families to obtain adaptive equipment and/or orthotic devices as needed for each individual child.

Sports injuries range from sprains and strains to fractures and ligament tears.  Concussions are also included here.

Physical therapists at OPT are familiar in treating a variety of orthopedic injuries and post-surgical patients.  We work closely with patients and physicians to follow necessary treatment protocols.  In addition to rehabilitation of the injured body part, physical therapists at OPT are dedicated to educating patients and families on injury prevention to limit injury recurrence.

Toe walking is a commonly seen diagnosis and is often accompanied by tightness of the calf muscles. Children who are toe walkers often begin toe walking from an early age and may go undetected for some time before concerns are raised by the parents.  Causes of toe walking can be neurological impairments, sensory porcessing disorders or can be unknown.

Our team of physical therapists at OPT will work with patients and families to determine the cause of toe walking in order to guide treatment appropriately.  If the family expresses some sensory concerns, a referral to occupational therapy may be warranted to rule out sensory processing disorders.  Physical therapy treatment will address muscle tightness, muscle weakness and body mechanics to promote improvements with gait patterns.

Torticollis is a condition primarily seen in infants and is characterized by tightness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the neck, resulting in abnormal positioning of the head. Babies with torticollis may also present with flattening of the head due to poor head positioning.

Physical therapists at OPT work closely with these families to develop therapeutic programs that incorporate stretching, positioning and gross motor skill development.  Our therapists will also work with families and physicians to determine whether or not there is a need for a cranial orthosis to help with correction of plagiocephaly.