Physiotherapy | Somerset West | Et Al Therapy & Learning Centre

Peadiatric physiotherapy assists in the early detection of problems that can influence a child’s normal development.

Physiotherapists at Et Al Therapy and Learning Centre Somerset West are specialised in the diagnosis, treatment and management of infants, children and adolescents with a variety of congenital, developmental, neuromuscular, sceletal or acquired disorders and diseases.

1. The role of a physiotherapist.

Physiotherapy treatments focus on normalising muscle tone, improving strength, endurance and core stability, improving of gross motor skills, improving posture and postural control, improving balance and coordination and influencing motor planning. The physiotherapist trains and supports parents, carers and teachers in the child’s mobility and positioning programme and works towards a carry over of therapy into the school and home environment. The physiotherapist works as part of a multi- professional team, supporting Occupational and Speech Therapists in achieving optimal positioning, endurance and strength during their sessions with the child.
The physiotherapist uses a variety of modalities to treat the child, this might include hydrotherapy and kinesiology taping.

2. What diagnosis can benefit from physiotherapy:

Infants with a delay in reaching their developmental milestones for example: sitting upright, crawling or walking will benefit from physiotherapy. These delays in development can occur due to Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome or Developmental Delay.

Children with poor gross motor development and participation in gross motor activities on the playground or during school activities and children with poor balance who are constantly tripping and falling, will benefit from physiotherapy.

Children with poor posture and poor postural control due to low muscle tone, increased muscle tone, poor core stability or scoliosis will benefit from physiotherapy.

These complications can lead to a difficulty in maintaining postures in the classroom, poor endurance in sitting posture or constant movement to overcome the lack of postural control.