Paediatric Physiotherapy

Paediatric physiotherapy supports children with movement, pain, injury and developmental concerns, from birth to 18 years.

As every child presents differently, the assessment and plan will depend on their age, symptoms, stage of development and individual goals.

Note: The assessment and treatment described below are indicative. Your child’s session will be tailored to their individual condition, needs and goals, and may be modified by your physiotherapist based on their clinical judgement.

Who is paediatric physiotherapy for?

Paediatric physiotherapy may be suitable for children who:

• Are delayed in reaching gross motor milestones
• Have difficulty with head control, tummy time, sitting, crawling or walking
• Have concerns with balance, coordination or movement quality
• Have a head tilt or uneven head shape
• Experience muscle weakness, stiffness or reduced joint movement
• Have pain affecting school, sleep, daily activities or sport
• Have a muscle strain, joint injury or sports-related concern
• Are recovering from surgery, a fracture or a period of reduced activity
• Have a diagnosed neurological, developmental or musculoskeletal condition
• Need support with strength, mobility, confidence or physical participation

Common conditions and symptoms we assess

We assess and manage a range of childhood concerns, including:

• Delayed gross motor milestones (head control, tummy time, sitting, crawling, walking)
• Head-turning preference or flat spot (torticollis and plagiocephaly)
• Balance, coordination or movement-quality difficulties
• Muscle weakness, stiffness or reduced joint movement
• Pain affecting school, sleep, daily activities or sport
• Muscle strains, joint injuries or sports-related concerns
• Recovery after surgery, fracture or reduced activity
• Diagnosed neurological, developmental or musculoskeletal conditions
• Conditions such as torticollis, clubfoot and developmental dysplasia of the hip

What happens during the appointment?

Your physiotherapist will first discuss your child’s medical and developmental history, current concerns, daily activities and goals.

The physical assessment is guided by your child’s specific presentation and may include:

• Observation through play and age-appropriate movement tasks
• Gross motor development and milestone checks
• Posture, movement patterns and symmetry
• Muscle strength, flexibility, tone and joint mobility
• Balance, coordination and walking
• Functional activities such as sitting, standing, running, jumping or climbing

Parents or caregivers are involved throughout, and findings are explained clearly with time for questions.

What you will leave with

Depending on your child’s needs, you may receive:

• A clear explanation of the assessment findings
• Practical advice for positioning, handling or daily activities
• Age-appropriate play and movement recommendations
• A personalised home exercise programme
• Guidance for school, sport or physical activity
• Strategies to support strength, mobility and confidence
• Recommendations for follow-up care or further assessment

Your next steps

Depending on your child’s assessment and goals, we may recommend:

• Individual paediatric physiotherapy
• Developmental physiotherapy follow-up
• Sports injury rehabilitation
• Strength and Conditioning
• Scoliosis-specific (Schroth) physiotherapy
• Home, school or caregiver-based strategies
• Referral to another healthcare professional, where appropriate