Infant physical therapy is for children who have had or are about to have surgery on their spine, limbs, or abdomen. One of the goals of infant physical therapy is to help with movement in those areas and prevent complications from a surgery.
What is infant physical therapy?
If your baby has a medical condition that affects their movement, you may be referred to a physical therapist. Infant physical therapy can help your baby develop and improve their movement skills.
Conditions that may benefit from infant physical therapy include:
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Spina Bifida
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
Your baby’s physical therapist will assess their abilities and create a treatment plan to help them reach their full potential. Treatment may include exercises, massage, and stretching.
Why would you need it?
If your infant has a medical condition that affects their movement, muscle strength, or coordination, they may benefit from infant physical therapy. Infant physical therapy can help improve your child’s gross motor skills (such as sitting, crawling, and walking), fine motor skills (such as grasping and manipulating objects), and/or developmental milestones (such as reaching, rolling, and kicking).
Your child’s doctor or another medical professional may refer you to an infant physical therapist if they suspect your child has a delay in their development or if they have a diagnosis that could benefit from physical therapy intervention.
How does it work?
Infant physical therapy is a type of therapy that uses movement to help babies develop. It can be used to help babies with birth defects, developmental delays, or other conditions that affect their ability to move.
Physical therapists who work with infants use a variety of techniques, including massage, stretching, and exercises. They also use playtime to help babies learn new skills and improve their coordination.
Most infant physical therapy sessions last 30 minutes to an hour. The number of sessions your baby will need will depend on their condition and how well they are progressing.
What can it help with?
Infant physical therapy can help with a variety of issues, including:
- Developmental delays
- Gross motor skills delays
- Poor muscle tone
- Torticollis (tightness in the neck muscles)
- Plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome)
- feeding and swallowing difficulties
Each infant is different, and therefore each plan of care will be individualized to meet the specific needs of the child. However, some common goals of infant physical therapy include:
- Improving strength, range of motion, and muscle tone
- Enhancing gross motor skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling, and standing
- Reducing torticollis and plagiocephaly through positioning and repositioning techniques
- Improving feeding and swallowing skills
When and where should I get it?
If your baby is born premature or has a low birth weight, your doctor may recommend infant physical therapy. Infant physical therapy can help your baby develop the strength and coordination they need to grow and thrive.
Most babies will benefit from infant physical therapy within the first few months of life. However, if your baby has a medical condition that requires ongoing treatment, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, they may need physical therapy for an extended period of time.
Your baby’s doctor will work with you to create a customized treatment plan that meets your child’s specific needs. Infant physical therapy sessions are typically short, lasting no more than 30 minutes. However, depending on your child’s progress, your therapist may recommend more frequent or longer sessions.
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baby care