Physiotherapy
Welcome to the Physiotherapy page
What is Paediatric Physiotherapy?
Paediatric Physiotherapy is the treatment and care of babies, children and young people from birth to 19 years.
Paediatric Physiotherapists promote the health and wellbeing of children and have additional knowledge and experience of child development and of childhood disabilities.
Treatment is based upon assessment of the child’s needs and the formation of an individual treatment programme.
Paediatric physiotherapists recognise the importance of working in partnership with the child, parents and carers to maximise a child’s physical abilities and independence.
Working with:
- Occupational Therapists
- Paediatricians
- Teachers
- Nurses
- GPs
- Social Workers
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Psychologists
- Orthotists
- Dieticians
- Health Visitors
Often working as part of a Multidisciplinary Team.
Where do Paediatric Physiotherapists work?
Paediatric physiotherapists may work in a variety of settings:
- Child’s home
- Schools
- Nurseries
- Clinics
- Child Development Centres
- Children’s Centres
- Hospitals
- Hospices
Where you will find us:
| Acute Paediatric Physiotherapy | Community Paediatric Physiotherapy |
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Who we might see?
Please refer to the Difficulties and Conditions page.
How can I access the Service?
We have an open referral system which means that anyone who knows or works with a child or young person can refer to our service. This may include parents/carers, teachers, other health professionals, consultants, GP’s etc.
We do ask that if a professional is referring on behalf of a parent, they obtain consent from the parent/carer before the referral is sent to us. We cannot accept referrals where we do not have signed consent. You can download a referral form using the following links:
Neath Port Talbot Referral Form
Assessment
When your child is referred to our service – you will be sent a letter of acknowledgement to say that the referral has been received and your child will be placed on a waiting list. You will then be sent an appointment letter for an initial assessment. You will need to confirm your attendance by telephone.
At the assessment, your therapist will ask you several questions about your child, their development and your current concerns. Following this, your therapist will carry out a physical examination, often by observing how your child plays and moves. From this, your therapist will analyse the assessment findings and for recommendations and a plan. It is often necessary for the child/young person to be undressed for a physical examination; you may wish to bring shorts and a vest.
Your therapist will use a variety of informal and formal assessment tools depending on how your child presents.
Treatment Options
Further parent leaflets are available from the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapy website.
- Advice, education and prevention
- Exercise
- Neurodevelopment approach (NDT) (PDF)
- Rebound Therapy (PDF)
- Hydrotherapy (PDF)
- Horse Riding Therapy (PDF)
- Massage (PDF)
GROUPS:
- Constraint Induced Movement Therapy
- On The Ball
- Karate
- Circuits Training
- Ropics
- Cycling
- Tennis
Other therapy groups are often tailored to meet the needs of that group of children at that particular time.
Therapy groups:
- Botulinum Toxin
- Orthopaedic Surgery
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.
We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.