Physical Therapy

Treatment Options

NOTE: A prescription is required to access our services, and most insurances require prior authorization for therapy. Our staff will assist in obtaining insurance authorizations and, if insurance is not available or does not cover our services, we accept cash payments on the date of service.

Sports Medicine/Orthopedic Therapy

We work closely with Rady Children's orthopedic specialists and other physicians in the community to develop individualized treatment plans. Sport-specific training is included in rehabilitation programs for athletes.

Therapy programs may include the following:

• Sport-specific training
• Spine stabilization/core strength (programs that address the unpredictability of sport)
• Dynamic balance training using a variety of balance boards, balls and foam rolls
• Progressive resistive exercises (PREs) using weights, resistance bands and cords, and body weight training
• Total Gym
• Treadmill, stair steppers and stationary bikes
• Progressive plyometric training/closed kinetic chain
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Joint mobilization
• Gait analysis and gait training
• Assessment and casting for foot orthotics
• Pilates

Physical therapy also may include use of the following modalities:

• Functional electrical stimulation
• TENS
• Microcurrent
• Iontophoresis
• Ultrasound
• Moist heat or ice
• Taping including Kinesiotape and McConnell taping techniques

Treatment is based on goals established at the time of the evaluation. Progress is monitored and goals are updated and modified as needed. Frequency and duration of treatment is determined by your physician with input from the physical therapist.

Treatment Approaches

Treatments consist of a variety of methods that are play-based and developmentally appropriate and may include the following:

• Neurodevelopmentally based treatment (NDT)
• Strengthening
• Stretching
• Facilitation/inhibition techniques
• TAMO (treatment of movement disorders)
• Sensory/body awareness
• Infant massage
• Functional training including balance and gait training
• Fabrication of aquaplast splints for the lower extremities
• Torticollis
• Lymphedema management

Physical therapy is based on goals established at the time of the evaluation and also includes the following:

• Parent participation during treatment sessions and through home exercise programs
• Ongoing assessment of needs for adaptive equipment and orthotic devices, including consultation with the appropriate vendors and physicians
• Ongoing modification of goals which are function-related, child- and family-oriented, and developmentally appropriate

Frequency and duration of therapy is determined by your physician with input from the physical therapist.

Rehabilitation and Inpatient Therapy

Physical therapists provide therapy to patients in all areas of the Hospital for a wide range of diagnoses. The frequency of therapy depends on the patient's needs and the physician's recommendations. On the rehabilitation unit, physical therapy is more intensive and directed toward returning the patient to the highest functional level possible before discharge. Inpatient therapy is done either in the patient's room or in the physical therapy gym, depending on the patient's needs.

Inpatient therapy may include any of the following:

• Transfer training/bed mobility training
• Gait training, including the use of walkers, canes or crutches
• Strengthening
• Stretching/ROM programs to prevent contracture
• Positioning
• Balance training
• Functional mobility skills
• Neurodevelopmentally based treatment (NDT)
• Infant massage
• Lymphedema management

The treatment plan is based on goals established at the initial evaluation the first time the patient is seen. An important part of therapy is parent and family involvement. Therapy also includes education and instruction on bedside exercise and/or a home-exercise program.

In This Section

• How We Evaluate Children

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• PT Treatment Terminology

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