It may come as a surprise that we can do pediatric physiotherapy over teleheath! How does it work? What ages can do telehealth physio? What concerns/conditions can we help over physio? Let's break it down.
Infants (0-18 months)
Some infants need physiotherapy for head shape asymmetries, head turn preferences, delayed motor skills, constipation and other concerns. All of these can be treated over telehealth! We have evidence that the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, which we use to measure gross motor skill progress, has validity when done via telehealth. We can also modify how we measure head shape and get you taking photos of your babies head in different directions for us to measure. During the call we can set up the video calling device and watch how your little one is moving! Treatment will include teaching you how to do exercises, stretches and/or positioning techniques to help your child.
Toddlers (18 months- 5 years)
Little toddlers may need physiotherapy for a variety of reasons. Some of these include neurodevelopmental conditions, delayed motor skills, orthopedic/ sports injuries and pelvic health conditions such as constipation or rumination (frequent regurgitations). Just like in person physiotherapy- telehealth will look different for each unique child!
Some toddlers like to follow along with power point stories that include moving images and a story/ tasks that incorporate exercises. Some like to play games like "Simon says." Other kids like to join in with themed kids yoga! We can observe motor skills over the video call and parents will often share videos of their little ones moving outside of physio sessions so your we can get a good sense of their function in different environments. Your physio will provide exercise ideas and strategies that fit into your routine at home.
Young kids (5-11 years)
Kids will need physio for similar reasons as mentioned above with a few extra ones. Some of these include neurodevelopmental conditions, delayed motor skills, orthopedic/ sports injuries and pelvic health conditions such as constipation, incontinence or rumination (frequent regurgitations). Bed wetting is another pelvic health condition that tends to present in this population. It's recommended to seek help if your child is still wetting after 5 years old. The physiotherapy session will be suited to their interests and needs. We can plan exercises that are related to the after school activities they enjoy doing and make sure it fits in with the family routine!
Preteens and Teens (12-19 years)
While the conditions we can treat for teens remain the same- the therapy will shift with their changing interest areas. We can make a "tik tok" video that incorporates leg strength, or do some "video game stretches" to do while they are busy playing with their pals. The sky is the limit and physios are good at getting creative with your young ones. If your child has a cell phone, they can download our "physi-app" and message directly with their physio in between appointments if they have concerns or questions about the program. They can watch videos on the app and follow along with the program that way.
What happens if the child is not engaging in therapy?
If your child is not engaging on telehealth, we have a few options. We can re-assess what motivates them and try to help them engage that way. The second option is taking the session time for education/ teaching between the therapist and parents. In this way, we will teach you how to perform exercises, stretches or strategies with your children in your day to day life. Once you have a chance to try the recommendations, you can report back and we can make any needed adjustments. Another option is collaborating with a physiotherapist near you locally. If there are pediatric/ pelvic health physiotherapists in your area, we can transfer care to them. If you are in a rural community without specialist physios, we can work with the local general physio and coach them on what we need to do for your child. This may look like a few joint physio sessions or phone/ email communication back and forth between the physios.
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