Pediatric physical therapy entails the management of children with motor difficulties from newborns to teenagers.

This is accomplished with an extensive primary assessment, which leads to the development of an individualised therapeutic programme based on functional activities.

Therapeutic exercises become pleasant and creative through age appropriate playing and fun activities. The therapeutic team is composed of physical therapists and assistants, to achieve the maximum results.

Therapeutic equipment

Litegait

The litegait is a therapeutic tool which promotes gait training through partial weight bearing.
This gait training system offers a safe environment, without the danger of falling, leaving way for the improvement of motor abilities and giving a sense of achievement and satisfaction.
By using the Litegait system, children can start standing in upright position training and gait training much earlier due to the support of part of their body weight.
Through a large range of settings and adjustments many therapeutic exercises in static and dynamic balance positions can be performed, as well as gait training with the proper alignment and trunk position.

Whole Body Vibration Plate

The Whole Body Vibration Plate can be a very effective tool in the hands of a physical therapist, as it produces heat to the muscles and joints more easily compared to other types of exercises. With the use of the Whole Body Vibration Plate, improvements in balance and proprioception have been noted. That happens because the vibration disrupts balance and the brain tries to create the circumstances for the child’s body position to remain stable.

The Whole Body Vibration Plate produces a wide range of frequencies and forces that seem to help with problems caused by various disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Muscle Atrophy, osteoporosis, osteopenia, leukemia, scoliosis, and kyphosis.

Spider cage

The spider cage is a stable steel structure that gives the therapists the opportunity to perform specific strengthening and balance exercises with children, which in other circumstances would not be possible. This is due to proper body alignment that is achieved by a system of straps, harnesses and ropes that attach to this structure. In this way the child can reach his or her full potential faster, more easily and more efficiently.

In general, the spider cage:

• Offers a sense of independence, as the child can move without the support of the therapist’s hands
• Provides partial weight bearing support needed for the child to balance alone
• Provides correct body alignment in all positions
• Gives the opportunity for more effective stretching with correct body alignment
• Challenges the child’s balance in a supported environment
• Stimulates the vestibular system for balance improvement
• Allows the therapist to change the resistance of the cords, which results in muscle strengthening

It has been observed that children love the spider cage and the freedom it offers them, despite the fact that they work hard.

Stairs and uphill

Climbing wall

All the above aim at improving gross motor which includes:

rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, running, stair management, walker or walking stick management, even managing schoolyards or playgrounds safely.