Babies and children are not little adults, their brains and bodies unlike adults are still developing, and it is important to have expert knowledge of normal developmental stages from conception to birth, and from birth to adolescent in order to assess and treat a child appropriately when there is a deviation from typical development. Paediatric Physiotherapists are experts in diagnosing and treating developmental musculoskeletal imbalances, neurological impairment, cardiorespiratory conditions, and movement and coordination dysfunction in the paediatric population.

The aim of Paediatric Physiotherapy is to promote optimal gross motor development, minimize the effects of physical impairments, prevent secondary complications and ensure that your child has every opportunity to achieve walking and to be able to participate in life with friends and family. Paediatric Physiotherapy unlike Physiotherapy for adults requires you to be committed and participate with the treatment program in order to achieve optimal outcomes for your child. My Favourite Physio is an Approved Physiotherapy Provider of the Better Start for Children with Disability Initiative.

Some common conditions we treat are

• Premature babies (<36 weeks gestational age) or low birth weight babies (<1500g) - who are at risk of developmental delay or at risk of cerebral palsy;
• Newborn babies having difficulty turning their heads – who have a preference to look to one side only; or have a head tilt to one side;
• Newborn babies not tolerating tummy time – who are unable to hold their heads up when on their tummy; or only tolerate tummy time for 1-2 mins at a time only;
• Newborn babies having flat spots on the back or side of their heads, especially after 7 weeks old – often these babies would also have a preference to look to one side and do not tolerate tummy time.
• Newborn babies with clicky hips – who have stiff hips where parents find it difficult to open babies’ legs to do a nappy change;
• Newborn babies with feet that turn in or out – who have feet that tend to rest in a curled posture from the ankle or at the middle of their foot;
• Babies and toddlers who have difficulty with rolling, sitting, crawling and cruising – who are not achieving their gross motor milestones; or who are not able to move from one position to another;
• Toddlers with pigeon toes, bow legs, in-rolling ankles, knocked knees – who seem to trip over often or fall over; or dragging a foot;
• Children who have difficulties with coordination, balance, walking and running – who are not able to jump, skip or hop without falling over.
• Children and teenagers who have sports related injuries – musculoskeletal complaints such as knee pain, ankle sprains, muscle strains, and shoulder injuries.

Physiotherapy and early intervention can effectively treat the above concerns with great outcomes. Working in partnership with families, we expect change to occur within 2 weeks, as long as parents commit to the treatment program we have designed specifically for your child. How much change occurs for your child is highly dependent on the amount of intervention your child receives as well as their specific condition. Don’t waste another day wondering if your child is missing out on vital early intervention to improve their gross motor skills, book now for an appointment with our experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist today to get your child moving!

Don’t waste another day wondering if your child is missing out on vital early intervention to improve their gross motor skills, call us on 02 9790 4233 or book now for an appointment with our experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist today to get your child moving!"