Information provided here comes from a Podcast with Dr. Brian Greene, Pure Hearts & Rhonda Schnabl, PT, Milemarkers

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Physical therapists work with individuals across the lifespan who experience illness, injury or conditions that limit their ability to move or participate in their daily life. You can think of them as movement experts.

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapists work with individuals across the lifespan who experience illness, injury or conditions that limit their ability to move or participate in their daily life. You can think of them as movement experts.

What skills do PT’s address?

Every practice is a little different depending on the clientele. At Milemarkers, we typically see:
Babies who have torticollis (or a preference to look to one side) and flat head syndrome.
Kids who…

  • Have a preference for toe walking
  • Have difficulties with coordination
  • Have a weak core (which affect so much)
  • Have limited endurance
  • Need bracing options to help them walk
  • Have trouble catching a ball (ball skills)
  • Are delayed in achieving gross motor milestones such as skipping, galloping and jumping.
  • Want to learn to ride a bike without training wheels

How is it different from OT?

  • OT address skills that impact a persons major occupations (work, play, leisure, sleep, ADL’s, IADL’s, education).
  • PT’s address anything related to movement and getting around to include positioning.
  • Both disciplines may find themselves doing similar activities (play) at times but addressing different overarching goals.

What things should parents be communicating with their PT?

  • Pain
  • Falls
  • Medication Changes

When should a parent seek out PT services?

  • When your child seems to be “lazy”
  • Your child isn’t sitting by 9 months old.
  • If you child is unable to keep up with their peer physically.
  • If your child is still toe walking after age?

Physical Therapists address:

  • Aerobic conditioning (endurance)
  • Play
  • Core strength
  • Bilateral Coordination
  • Sitting and standing balance
  • Locomotion
  • Object control
  • Motor control/motor learning
  • Posture
  • Strength
  • Stretching
  • The skills they work on or how they work on these skills
  • Ball skills
  • Running, galloping, skipping, riding a bike
  • Sit ups, push ups, planks, body weight activities
  • Balance activities
  • Assessment of bracing needs
  • Stretching and strengthening programs