Paediatric Rehabilitation: Importance and Approaches
Commonly, rehabilitation is prescribed to restore some or all of the patient’s physical, sensory, and mental capabilities lost due to injury, illness, or disease, including arthritis, cardiac disease, neurological problems, orthopedic injuries, and many more.
While there are different approaches to treat other cases, Paediatric rehabilitation is a specialized branch of medicine that focuses on helping children and adolescents (up to 19 years) with physical, developmental, and neurological disabilities or injuries.
Paediatric rehabilitation can be a long-term process, and the goals and approaches may change as the child grows and develops. However, with the proper support and interventions, children with disabilities or injuries can achieve their full potential and lead happy, healthy lives.
In this context, today, we will discuss the importance of Paediatric Rehabilitation and its different approaches.
Importance of Paediatric Physiotherapy
Paediatric rehabilitation plays a crucial role in the lives of children with physical, developmental, and neurological disabilities or injuries. Here are some of the reasons why kids physiotherapy is so important:
- Helps children develop the skills they need to achieve their full potential, despite their condition or injury.
- Improves physical and mental health in children by increasing their strength, mobility, and flexibility.
- Enhances independence and autonomy in children by teaching them the skills they need to perform daily activities on their own.
- Reduces the need for hospitalization by helping children recover from injuries or surgeries more quickly.
- Promotes inclusion and socialization in children to improve their self-esteem and overall quality of life.
Approaches to Pediatric Therapy
Approaches to pediatric rehabilitation can vary depending on the child’s specific needs but typically involve a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, and social workers. Some common approaches to paediatric physiotherapy include:
Physical therapy
Paediatric Physical therapy aims to help children improve their mobility, strength, and coordination through exercises and other therapeutic techniques. Physical therapy can help children with various illnesses, including congenital disabilities, developmental delays, genetic disorders, muscular coordination issues, and orthopaedic limitations. The exercises may include resistance training, motor training, aerobic exercise, aquatic therapy, and flexibility training.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy helps children develop the skills needed to perform activities of daily living, such as dressing, feeding, and grooming.
This can help kids with spina bifida, learning difficulties, birth deformities, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic injuries, and many other illnesses.
Occupational therapists frequently experiment with novel approaches and strategies to improve a child’s ability to play, perform academically, socialize, and complete other daily activities.
Speech and language therapy
Speech and language therapy helps children develop communication skills, including speech, language, and social communication. The augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) approach is used to rehabilitate children with speech disorders. The devices used to aid the process include picture boards, communication apps, or speech-generating devices.
Where to Find the Best Paediatric Physiotherapy Centre?
Generally, Pediatric therapists practice in hospitals, clinics, home care, and daycare centers.
Before starting the treatment, a paediatric physiotherapy assessment is conducted to understand the current state of the child.
If you are looking for Speech Therapy in Kolkata, Medical Rehabilitation Center, Conceived & Developed by the visionary Dr. M. M. Ghatak, is ranked as one of Kolkata’s Top Neuro Rehabilitation Centres. In MRC, a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals works together to provide the best possible care for each child, tailoring interventions to their unique needs and goals.
