How to Address Disorders and Pathologies in Childhood

A physiotherapist specialized in pediatric neuro physiotherapy is a person with graduate knowledge from various universities or establishments dedicated to health.

In its role, pediatric physiotherapy addresses the main disorders and pathologies of childhood.

What is Pediatric Physiotherapy?

Pediatric physiotherapy is a specialization within physiotherapy that tries to address disorders or pathologies related to the musculoskeletal system or motor control problems that affect movement and therefore the development of the child.

In this sense, a physio-pediatrician must have training not only in biomechanical anatomy and motor control but also know how to learn to move, have emotions about motor learning, and above all, about the overall development of the child.

Main developmental disorders and pathologies treated by pediatric Physiotherapists

The main pathologies and disorders that we are going to find are going to be different in the early stages, from newborn to older boys (because they can reach 18 years of age).

In the early stages, what is most commonly found are “motor delay” or “psychomotor delay” that can be identified and resolved by a disorder that is transitory. It does not have any predecessor organic cause or, it could be the first sign of other pathologies. The pathologies that can cause these are mentioned below:

Autism spectrum disorder
Cerebral palsy
Musculoskeletal pathologies
Plagiocephaly
Congenital torticollis
Brachial palsy
Congenital hip dislocation
Clubfoot

On the other hand, we have a neuromuscular, among those related can be:

Spinal atrophies
Myopathies
Dystrophies

Finally, we have the group of alterations of the central nervous system, in which the following stand out:

Cerebral palsy as the main cause of disability in childhood
Congenital brain damage.
Later brain damage from an arteriovenous malformation
Head trauma
Tumors

The same thing happens to us at the level of the spinal cord where we also see trauma and tumors, and then we have dysfunctions of the central nervous system such as:

Metabolic diseases affect proper functioning and this translates into serious problems at the level of movement control and posture.

The importance of play in childhood

A very important fact to keep in mind is that children are not small adults, but rather children have the characteristic – especially in the early stages from 0 to 2 to 6 years. The characteristic that they have a nervous system that is not yet mature and that has to develop, and this develops with the physiological maturation itself and then with the experiences that the child can carry out because this makes connections.

So, a very essential tool in pediatrics is playing because through play we will achieve the motivation of the child to move because we want him to move actively, independently to promote autonomy and learning in the future.

How does a pediatric physical therapist prepare?

The methodology used will be focused mainly on practice, but will receive some hints of theory. The idea is to work based on experience and dealing with patients of children with some type of affectation or healthy children, in order to assess.

According to www.miraclerehabclinic.com, you should practice certain maneuvers with a doll or among the same classmates. Then do group activities in which the student has to design activities and carry them out to present them in the classroom.

Among the objectives of this training, the main one is to discover, to introduce therapists who want to dedicate themselves to pediatric physio, the particular characteristics of this specialization, with which we are going to try to give four strokes on motor control and motor learning. Try to know and understand what the development of a healthy child is like.

At the same time, the most frequent pathologies will be seen, knowing how to identify them and apply some techniques to be able to address them in the best way. The use of screening tools will also be put into practice to detect when there is a problem, to be able to detect it as early as possible.

Assessment tools that assess the motor capacity of children will help students to try to design activities adapted to the age and/or level of development of each patient.

Finally, when it is not possible to learn – because sometimes it cannot be rehabilitated but adapted – there will be a part where a workshop will be held to manipulate and make tools to adapt the infant’s motor development, both in sitting and standing.

Conclusion

Remember to always consult with specialists before submitting your children to certain treatments.

Professionals will make a diagnosis to offer you the best treatment and adapt it to the patient’s needs. Treating children with certain conditions early can ensure an easier and healthier future.