Role of Physiotherapy in Children’s Health

Abstract

Children need the supervision of adults and also specialist facilitation, which is entirely different from those of adults. The child-centered health care approaches and their delivery modes are continuously in a changing phase. Health services provided to the children are remodeled according to their present and future needs.

Pediatric physiotherapy is one of the developed domains of physiotherapy. Pediatric physiotherapists are specialists who work with individuals from being premature to adolescents, targeting the main goal of optimal physical development. They work with a holistic approach making certain that along with the highlighted health needs, the social, emotional and educational factors are also taken into consideration¹. So, overall the role of a pediatric physiotherapist is not only to deliver the intervention but also to work as a consultant, trainer and educationist.

Physiotherapy plays a vital role in guiding coordinated movements, posture education, specific therapeutic exercises and cardiorespiratory fitness by involving family and caregivers. Therapists can provide health care services in the hospital setting (out-patient or in-hospital clinics), community settings such as child development centers, in mainstream schools and in special schools. Treatments usually given to children are of a wide range such as motor learning, mobilization, massage, stretching, neurodevelopmental therapy and hydrotherapy.