Paediatric Physiotherapy Service
Long Term Conditions
We work with many children and young people with long term conditions, many of them permanent since birth or soon after.
Long Term Conditions
We work with many children and young people with long term conditions -many of them permanent since birth or soon after. Conditions include Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and other neurological and neuromuscular conditions. Not everyone has a diagnosis and in physiotherapy we use a problem-solving, goal-orientated approach to helping everyone reach their full potential.
Below are some resources and information that may be helpful to children, young people and their families who are living with long term conditions.
Here you can find help, advice and information about the local services available for children and young people with a special educational need or disability.
Does your child use a standing frame? The Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists have a helpful leaflet.
Serial Casting
Serial casting is a technique used by physiotherapists to give a prolonged stretch to the calf muscle, which can reduce pain, improve standing and walking ability, and in the long-term, prevent surgery to release the tight muscle. It involves applying a series of plaster casts over a number of weeks to immobilise the ankle joint with the muscle in a stretched position. One or both legs may be cast.
Postural Care
Postural care is about supporting and protecting your child's body shape. Children with movement difficulties are more at risk of developing changes to their body shape over time. Postural care aims to use the right positioning and the right equipment to help protect and maintain body shape and alignment.
Down Syndrome
For families with children with Down Syndrome here is a useful resource from APCP:
A study helping children and young people with disabilities to move more.
Charities that may be able to provide support and help fund equipment/other needs:
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Duchenne UK
- Cerebral Palsy: Action CP
- Spina Bifida / Hydrocephalus: Shine
- Conditions from birth: Newlife
- General: Scope
How much physiotherapy does my child need? A research summary
What the research says
Research does not give us a clear answer to this question.
Some studies show that children with disabilities do better when they spend more time practising physical activities. Doing these activities more often can also help. The activities can be wide-ranging. They do not have to be special exercises.
Many people can help children practise: therapists, parents, brothers and sisters, carers, teachers, and nursery staff. It does not matter who they practise with, as long as they practise often.
Young children (under 2 years) and children who find moving harder may benefit more from longer and more intense physiotherapy than older or more mobile children.
The evidence is mixed. Some studies agree that more practice helps. Others do not show the same results.
Top tips
- Make it fun! Children join in more when they enjoy the activity. Games or sports they like work better than exercises they do not enjoy. Activities that the whole family can do together work wellare often the most effective. Have a look at what's available locally here.
- Make it part of play! Short, regular practice works better than one long session. Toddlers naturally repeat movements many times during play. This is how they learn new skills. Try “little and often” with your child. For older children, add practisce into daily routines.
- Do what you can. Parents are busy. Work, appointments, and caring for others all take time. There is no set number of hours that children must practise each day. Do what you can, little and often, and be realistic. Physical skills matter, but so do learning, talking, eating well, and family health. Balance is important.
- Get outdoors! Outdoor activities are good for both body and mind. Spending time outside as a family can help everyone's health and wellbeing. Have a look at what's available locally
