Physical Therapy for Children

 My favorite part of being a pediatric physical therapist is discharging patients who have met their goals.  Recently, I discharged an 18 month old girl who I had been treating for 10 months.  Her pediatrician referred her family to our clinic due to a developmental delay- she didn't start rolling until she was 8 months old-after starting physical therapy treatment at our clinic in Charlotte (rolling should start at 5-6 months).   

Through the months that followed, her Mom kept sharing with me that she was nervous her child wouldn't walk or would never catch up, but we kept pushing the little girl's limits and she continued to progress.  I remember telling the family the child would need a brace for her foot and how it effected the family.  After wearing an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) for 3 months, her foot's alignment had improved giving her better balance and she started taking independent steps.  The child's tone and strength improved from all of the "pre-walking" skills she had mastered like rolling, crawling, pulling to stand, and crusing on furniture leading this day.  Her Mom called me the day she started walking between chairs in their house- her daughter was now officially a walker!!  Our last appointment was last week and she was walking all over the room and through the hallways with no problem.  We said our goodbyes and she walked out of the office all by herself.

Even though it is my job and I have experienced children walking for the first time more than one time, it is special with every single time.  I find myself tearing up with the family when the children reach motor milestones.  What a blessing!