Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists use different methods to help children get better. Things like:

• Helping with movement and development
• Treating injuries
• Supporting long term conditions 
• Helping after a surgery or illness
• Providing advice and support

Developmental and neurological disorders are conditions that affect how a child’s brain and nervous system grow and function.

These conditions can change the way a child moves, learns, communicates, behaves, or interacts with others.

They include: 

• Gait problems like toe walking (when a child walks on the ball of their feet) or in-toeing (when a child's feet point inwards when walking)
• Cerebral Palsy - a lifelong condition caused by damage to a developing brain
• Developmental delays - when a child is slower than expected to do things like walking, talking
• Head injuries
• Learning disabilities with physical disabilities
• Infections of the brain, spinal column and peripheral nerves
• Erbs palsy - a weakness or paralysis of the arm caused by damage to nerves in the shoulder
• Genetic/chromosomal disorders - these conditions happen when there is a change in a child’s genes or chromosomes,
• Developmental co-ordination difficulties like Dyspraxia (a condition that affects how the brain plans and coordinates movement)

Congenital abnormalities (also called congenital conditions or birth defects) are health problems that a baby is born with.They happen before birth, while the baby is still developing in the womb.

These abnormalities can affect how a baby’s body, organs, or brain form and function.

They include:

• Talipes - a condition where a baby is born with one or both feet in the wrong position.
• Congenital dislocation of the hip - this happens when a baby’s hip joint does not form properly.
• Arthrogryposis - a condition where a baby is born with very stiff joints and weak or tight muscles.
• Spina Bifida - a condition that happens when the spine and spinal cord do not form completely before birth.
• Hydrocephalus - this is when too much cerebrospinal fluid builds up around the brain
• Congenital limb deficiencies - these are differences in the way a baby’s arms or legs develop before birth.

Bone, joint and muscle disorders include: 

• Muscular dystrophies - a group of genetic conditions that cause muscles to become weaker over time
• Torticollis - this happens when a baby’s neck muscles are tight or shorter on one side.
• Plagiocephaly - this is when a baby’s head becomes flat on one side.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis - this is a condition where the body’s immune system causes inflammation in muscles or joints.
• Epidermolysis Bullosa - this is a rare genetic condition where the skin is extremely fragile.
• Perthes - this happens when the blood supply to the hip joint is temporarily reduced.

You can find us at: 

• The Children's Centre in Sunderland 
• Palmer Community Hospital in Jarrow