What is Paediatric Neurological Physiotherapy? What is a Paediatric Neuro Physio?

Firstly, it is worth explaining the definition of the word Paediatric. Paediatric simply means 'the branch of medicine dealing with children.'

Now let's explain the role of Physiotherapists (or "Physios"). Paediatric Physiotherapists are health professionals who work with children to improve their physical function for day to day life, to rehabilitate injuries, reduce pain and to improve overall quality of life through physical movement.

Paediatric Neurological Physiotherapists and Conditions Treated

Paediatric Neurophysiotherapy is physiotherapy performed by Neurological Physiotherapists who are specially trained to diagnose and treat children with movement and function disorders that have originated from problems within the body's nervous and neuromuscular system. These disorders affect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and can include (but are not limited to) the following conditions:

• Cerebral Palsy,

• Stroke,

• Traumatic brain injury,

• Multiple Sclerosis,

• Parkinson’s Disease,

• Spinal cord injury,

• Motor Neuron Disease.

Impact of Neurological Conditions on Children

Neurological conditions can have a huge impact on a child's life. They can cause impairments in the child's cognition, perception, communication, mood, social capabilities and physical function. A Neurological Physiotherapist considers all aspects of a child's condition/(s) when determining the appropriate treatment plan, but will also typically focus on the impairments that impact on the child's physical function, which may include the condition's impact on their:

• strength

• loss of movement

• sensation

• respiration (breathing)

• physical endurance, fatigue

• pain

• postural deformity

• muscle spasms and

• loss of balance.

Improving Quality of Life for Children

These impairments can have profound affects on a child's quality of life, their ability to perform tasks and activities of everyday living. In treating a child with a neurological condition, a Neurophysiotherapist will not only focus on the condition's impairments - they will also look to improve the child's quality of life by helping them to undertake important daily activities, where possible and as age appropriate, ie:

• getting out of bed

• toileting

• leaving the house

• feeding their pets

• participating as part of the family unit

• making and keeping friends

• and much, much, more.

Treatment

Treatments can be specific to one particular area of the body (for example stretching the leg) or involve many body parts (such as practicing and working towards standing up). The Physio may perform hands on work or prescribe exercises to treat a condition (depending on the condition and a number of other factors) with the intention of helping the child to increase their mobility and overall quality of life. They may also modify an activity by adding a device (or "assistive technology" / "AT"), or may assist a child to learn how to achieve a daily activity through a capacity building program focused on improved movement and mobility.

Personalised Treatment Aligned to Achieving Your Child's and Family's Goals

If your child has a neurological condition and you are considering getting physiotherapy, it is vitally important to ensure that the Neurological Physiotherapist takes the time to understand your child's and your family's goals and what you'd like to achieve as part of a personalised physiotherapy Treatment Plan, which is tailored to suit your family's unique situation.

Family Agility Can Help You, Your Child & Your Family

​At Family Agility, we always take a neurodiversity-affirmative approach to your child's therapy and we include Family Goals in everything that we do. Our specially trained Occupational Therapists are highly qualified and experienced in assisting children, young people and families with physical, sensory, cognitive or behavioural issues through play therapy.

Family Agility, under it's parent company, Body Agility Pty Ltd, are nationally registered NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) providers of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, speech therapy, exercise physiology and therapy assistance. Experience the Family Agility difference and experience exceptional care and customer service. We take the time to understand your child's NDIS Goals - along with your family goals, so that the whole family benefits from our supports.

What are YOUR family's goals? We can help. Contact us now, we have capacity to provide services to you immediately, right across the broader Perth region with home visits, or at one of our clinics / gyms / any hydropool - or via video consultation (telehealth). We'd be delighted to hear from you.