Pediatric physical therapy helps babies, children, and young people develop their maximum physical potential, functionality, independence, and quality of life. Based on specialized knowledge, the physical therapist helps prevent complications and deformities, reduce or overcome functional limitations, adapt/readapt to the clinical condition, treat pain, correct structural changes, strengthen and gain balance, and work on dexterity and functional abilities.
They do this through age-appropriate techniques, adjusting to needs, seeking to respect the developing person and not treating them as a miniature adult. The intervention is very varied, as it can treat/rehabilitate musculoskeletal, neurological, or respiratory conditions.
In addition to working with the child, the physical therapist teaches and advises caregivers/parents in order to promote the continuity of the intervention at home.
Most Frequent Problems
- Musculoskeletal problems (congenital torticollis, congenital malformations, hip dysplasia, Sever's disease, Osgood-Shlatter disease, joint pain, spinal deformities, low back pain, chondropathies, recovery from fractures, dislocations, sprains, juvenile rheumatic diseases);
- Neurological conditions (cerebral palsy, infantile hemiplegia, neurodevelopmental delays, neuromuscular dystrophies, brachial plexus injury, spina bifida, Down syndrome, autism);
- Respiratory conditions (bronchiolitis, asthma, respiratory infections, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis).
Respiratory Physical Therapy
Respiratory physiotherapy aims to clear the airways in order to facilitate oxygenation during inhalation and the elimination of carbon dioxide during exhalation, reduce respiratory effort and difficulty breathing, increase exercise tolerance and activity levels, improve appetite, sleep quality, school performance, and prevent future hearing problems or craniofacial deformities. Another advantage is the reduced risk of infection, preventing secretions from remaining in the bronchial tree for long periods.
Most Frequent Problems
- Bronchiolitis;
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia;
- Atelectasis;
- Bronchial asthma;
- Cystic fibrosis;
- Upper respiratory tract infections;
- Neuromuscular diseases;
- Cerebral palsy;
- Post-surgical conditions;
- Bronchiectasis;
- Pleural effusion.
Integrative Pediatric Manual Therapy
Integrative Pediatric Manual Therapy (IPMT) assesses and treats joint, tissue, or cranial dysfunctions with a deep understanding of neurodevelopment in infants and children. These dysfunctions may be interfering with neurodevelopment and thus lead to future learning, attention, or behavioral difficulties.
IMPT assesses aspects such as coordination, balance, cerebellar function, or the presence of poorly integrated primitive reflexes and combines a set of gentle but precise and effective techniques whose objectives are to correct dysfunctions and activate more correct motor patterns. Our goal is to teach parents how to provide the motor and sensory stimuli that their baby or child needs at each stage.
You can come to us as soon as your baby is born, and we will help them grow up healthier.
Most Frequent Problems
- Joint injuries related to intrauterine positioning or childbirth;
- Blockage of the tear duct;
- Infant colic or other digestive disorders;
- Cranial deformities, including plagiocephaly;
- Difficulty latching on to the breast, gaining weight, or preference for one breast;
- Congenital torticollis;
- Sleep disturbances such as difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, restless sleep;
- Irritability;
- Problems crawling or walking;
- Congenital hip dislocation;
- Delayed motor development;
- Lower airway respiratory problems;
- ENT problems such as ear infections, sinusitis, tonsillitis;
- Oculomotor problems;
- Lack of coordination;
- Attention deficit
- Learning difficulties;
- Behavioral changes;
- Musculoskeletal pain.
Baby Massage
Touch is a privileged form of communication between parents and their baby. This massage facilitates the baby's growth and motor and cognitive development, reducing stress levels and promoting peaceful sleep, increasing the effectiveness of the immune system, improving circulation and breathing, and facilitating digestion and bowel movements, reducing the incidence of colic.
For parents, massaging their baby promotes well-being and relaxation, increases prolactin levels in the mother, and enhances the parents' ability to understand the cues their baby gives them.
By massaging their baby, parents convey love, security, and physical comfort.
Come learn how to do it with us.
In Leiria, the Baby Massage workshop is available at MommyCare
We walk with your child.
