Physical Therapy
At Bluestone, our licensed physical therapists work with children with a variety of ages, diagnoses, and abilities - using a play-based therapeutic approach to help meet your child where they are. Physical therapists are movement experts and are able to help your child develop the motor skills necessary to
be safe and independent in their environment as well as to be able to participate in developmentally appropriate gross motor activities with family and peers.
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Our sessions begin with a formal evaluation, looking at all aspects of the child's motor system including strength, range of motion, balance, coordination, gait pattern, and more. Following the initial evaluation, our therapists create an individualized treatment plan to target goals that are functional for the child. In addition to personalized therapy recommendations, we strive to provide comprehensive home exercise programs and caregiver education to further supplement our in-person sessions.
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Ultimately, our primary goals include developing milestones, increasing independence and participation, and engaging in "FUN"ctional play through providing one-on-one treatment sessions and family/caregiver empowerment.
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Services
Delayed gross motor skills
Physical therapists can help a child progress their development through acquisition of new gross motor skills (i.e., jumping, crawling, rolling) in sessions and through parent education on how to advance these skills at home during everyday activities. Delayed gross motor skills might look different at each age with our therapists tailoring activities to meet a child where they are.
Torticollis/Plagiocephaly
We are able to help address preference for head turn and abnormal head shape through stretching, strengthening and repositioning strategies. Our lactation-informed therapists are also able to assist with positioning for breast/bottle-feeding.
Poor visual-motor-skills and coordination
Physical therapists can help with improving coordination and increasing the connection between vision and upper/lower limb movements to help a child increase their ability to engage in activities (i.e., catching, throwing, riding a bike).
Poor Balance
Balance is important for everyday activities, physical therapists can help to improve both static and dynamic balance including single leg, sitting, standing, walking and more through performance of various activities and challenges.
Decreased strength or low muscle tone
Physical therapists can work to address a child’s upper, lower, or trunk strength through use of therapeutic exercises to improve active muscle contractions and carry-over to functional skills.
Decreased flexibility
Improvements in flexibility from physical therapy can be made through passive and active stretching of all extremities to improve range of motion.
Poor posture and core strength/stability
Core strength is important to be able to complete a variety of everyday tasks, physical therapists can work on addressing this area to improve posture as well as to create stability for activities like sitting at a desk, jumping, crawling, etc.
Abnormal gait pattern
Physical therapists are able to assess and treat abnormal gait patterns including in-toeing, out-toeing, toe walking, etc. to improve a child’s safety and independence while navigating their environment.
Pain or acute injuries
We are able to help treat injuries your child may have incurred by providing gentle range of motion, manual therapy, pain management, strengthening and education/prevention.