Children's Therapy & Rehab Specialists

Our Center Services:

Physical Therapy
We specialize in pediatric physical therapy.  We work with children from birth through young adulthood.  Our physical therapists have experience working with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Muscular Dystrophy, Orthopedic Injuries, CVA, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spina Bifida, Tortocollis, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Pediatric-trained physical therapists provide comprehensive evaluations and develop care plans guided by a clinical approach. When appropriate, they use innovative new technology as part of specific therapies.  

Physical Therapy is used to:

·         Increase Head and Trunk Control

·         Improve Standing and Walking

·         Improve Balance and Coordination

·         Improve Gross Motor Skills

·         Assess Need for Orthopedic Equipment

·         Improve Motor Planning

Indicators that your child would benefit from Physical Therapy:

·         Muscle Stiffness/Tightness

·         Delay in Obtaining Motor Milestones

·         Poor Balance and Uncoordinated 

·         Difficulty in Moving Through the Environment

·         Postural Abnormalities

·         Muscle Weakness

·         Pain

·         Impairment due to a Neurological or Orthopedic Condition

Serial Casting of the Lower Extremity    

These Serial Casting comments and guidelines are intended for use in patients 0-25 years of age with limitation in range of motion or those at risk of limitation in range of motion.  These may include but are not limited to the following patient diagnosis:

Idiopathic Toe Walking (ITW), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spasticity, Cerebral Palsy (CP), Decreased Range Of Motion, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Decreased passive range of motion and or spasticity can be symptoms common to patients with cerebral palsy (CP), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and idiopathic toe walking (ITW).  Spasticity is typically caused by damage to the part of the brain (motor cortex) that controls voluntary movement.  Patients that present with increased muscle tone and abnormal movement patterns are at a higher risk of muscle tightness.

Contractures and hypertonicity with associated limitations of passive and active range of motion are impairments frequently addressed in the rehabilitation of individuals with neuromuscular, neurological, and some soft tissue disorders.  Spasticity is a muscular hypertonicity characterized by a velocity-dependent increased resistance to stretch, which is known to interfere with voluntary movement.  Decreased range of motion at a joint results in abnormal movement and alignment at that joint with resultant decreased functional mobility.

Serial casting is a conservative technique that may be used to improve joint range in children with idiopathic toe walking (ITW) or spasticity.  Serial casting in the cerebral palsy patient population has been shown to improve range of motion.

Our serial casting uses a series of casts to stretch soft tissue (i.e. muscles) for an extended period of time.  This is done by applying a series of casts to gradually improve the child’s range of motion.. The goal of serial casting at the knee or ankle is to provide increased passive range of motion, prevent complications of deformity producing positions, allow future uses of orthotics when needed, and promote the highest level of function  and mobility.  Following casting, the therapeutic program includes: home stretching, bivalved casts used as night splints for prolonged stretching, and ongoing physical therapy treatment for strengthening and functional mobility training.

Kinesio Tapingâ: What is Kinesio Tapingâ?

The Kinesio Taping Methodâ is a taping technique applied over muscles to reduce pain and inflammation, relax overused muscles, and to facilitate muscles in movement.  Kinesioâ tape, “ a flexible, latex-free tape that could be used on our Pediatric patients, neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions.”

In order for the tape to be properly used and evaluation and assessment must be performed.  Once the assessment has been performed the tape may be applied to the specific target area.  The tape is applied and pulled to different degrees of tension depending on the desired effect and result.  The tape has been proven to have positive physiological effect on the skin, lymphatic system, circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints.

Benefits of Kinesioâ Taping:

·         Relieve acute and overuse injury

·         Promote circulation and healing

·         Reduce Pain

·         Improve muscle function

·         Re- Educate neuromuscular system

·         Provide Support to a joint

·         Prevent injury

Speech Therapy
Our speech pathologists have expertise in a wide variety of areas.  They work closely with physicians, educators, family and others on prompt, thorough assessments and results-oriented care plans.

Speech Therapy is used for:

·         Articulation

·         Language

·         Voice

·         Fluency / Stuttering

·         Swallowing

·         Augmentative-Alternative Communication

·         Autism Spectrum Disorders

Indicators that your child would benefit from Speech Therapy:

·         Challenges with Processing Information such as Answering Questions and Understanding Basic Concepts

·         Difficulty Expressing Their Wants and Needs by Communicating with Others

·         Speech Sound Errors, Such as "Baby Talk"

·         Feeding Issues, such as Avoidance of Food or Textures of Food

Occupational Therapy
Our pediatric-focused occupational therapists utilize the most current standardized evaluation tools to assist in diagnosis and treatment.

Occupational therapy gives us skills for the job of living.  Occupational therapy enhances body awareness; improving attention and developing hand functions for success during play activities, school tasks, and daily living.  Through occupational therapy, children develop their sense of self as they interact with family, friends, and others to learn and play.  Occupational therapy can promote self-confidence and independence through the development of:

·         Attention Skills

·         Sensory Processing Skills

·         Organizational Skills

·         Hand Dexterity / Fine Motor Skills

·         Visual - Spatial Skills

·         Motor Planning

·         Age Appropriate Skills of Daily Living

·         Visual - Motor Skills

Use of DIRâ/Floortimeä Approach:

The DIR/Floortime Model is a framework that helps our Floortime Trained Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop an intervention program tailored to the unique challenges and strengths of children with developmental issues.  The objectives of the DIR/Floortime Model are to build healthy foundations for social, emotional and intellectual capacities.

·         The Developmental part of The Model describes the building blocks of this foundation.  This includes helping children to develop capacities to attend and remain calm and regulated, engaged and relate to others, imitate and respond to all types of communication.  These developmental capacities are essential for spontaneous and empathetic relationships as well as the mastery of academic skills. 

·         The Individual part of The Model describes the unique biologically based ways each child takes in, regulates and responds to, and comprehends sensations such as sound and touch.

·         The relationship part of The Model describes the learning relationship with therapists and others who tailor their affect based interactions to the child’s individual differences and developmental capacities to enable progress in mastering the essential foundations.

As a comprehensive framework The Floortime Model at Children’s Therapy & Rehab Specialists typically involves an interdisciplinary team that can include a Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist or both to develop an individualized functional profile that captures each child’s unique needs. 

Indicators that your child would benefit from Occupational Therapy:

Infants:

·         Stiff or Weak Muscles

·         Avoids Using One or Both Arms

·         Demonstrates Trouble Grasping Toys or Holding a Bottle

·         Unable to Follow Moving Toys with His or Her Eyes

·         Drools Excessively or Demonstrates Decreased Oral Motor Skills

·         Resists Cuddling

·         Appears Distressed by Sudden Movements such as Swinging, Rocking, Etc.

Preschooler/Toddler:

·         Demonstrates Difficulty with Self-Help Skills such as Toileting or Dressing

·         Appears to Hold Crayons and Scissors Awkwardly

·         Resists Messy Activities like Finger-Painting or Sand Play

·         Shows Anxiety with Movement on Swings or Slides

·         Uses Repetitive rather than Creative Play

·         Demonstrates more Parallel Play than Cooperative Play

School-Age Child:

·         Seems Clumsy

·         Has Poor Balance

·         Resists Kinds of Touch, Such as Tooth-Brushing, Haircuts, or Tickling

·         Shows Poor Attention to School Tasks

·         Is Unable to Properly Gauge the Appropriate Amount of Pressure on Writing Utensils (e.g. Holds a Pencil too Tightly, possibly breaking it)

·         Still Lacks Hand Preference after Age 6

What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the most comprehensive and effective approach to improving the lives of children and the families of children with autism.  The ABA approach uses a mixture of psychological, education, and developmental techniques based upon the needs of the child.  This includes teaching social, motor, language, communication, and cognitive skills. 

As signs of autism begin to appear in a child’s life. Parents are usually the first to notice the symptoms.  They may observe that their child is not responsive to other people, avoids eye contact, or engages in repetitive and sometimes harmful behavior.  Raising a child is a rewarding and challenging time for any family, but when children are faced with behavioral or developmental issues associated with autism, sometimes extra support and guidance is needed.  That’s where Children’s Therapy and Rehab Specialists come in. Our services are designed to meet the unique needs of children and their families, helping everyone overcome obstacles and create foundations for future success. 

What is the purpose of an ABA program?

·         -Increase skills in language, play, and socialization

·         -Decrease challenging behaviors that interfere with learning and daily function

·         -Reduce or eliminate ritualistic or self injurious skills

·         -Increase attention span

·         -Increase independence and improve adaptive skills

Studies have shown that ABA techniques are a proven treatment and the method of choice for treating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at any level.  Even if the child does not achieve a “best outcome” result of normal functioning levels in all areas, nearly all children with autism benefit from intensive ABA programs.

Behavioral Services Include:

·         -Behavioral assessment and plan

·         -Assisting the child to engage in or remain engaged in appropriate behaviors

·         -Minimizing the child’s challenging behavior

·         -Utilizing principles of reinforcement to achieve goals

·         -Providing time structured activities

·         -Collaboration with, and support for the parent, guardian, and or individual who customarily provide ongoing behavioral support

Autism is the most common condition of the Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD’S) a category of neurological disorders marked by noticeable impairment in areas of development.  It is typically identified within the first 3 years of a child’s life, and characterized by difficulties with social interaction, repetitive behaviors, verbal and nonverbal communication problems, obsessive or severely limited activities and interests

Asperger's Syndrome, a milder form of autism, is characterized by children who display autistic social behaviors but have advanced language skills.