Pediatric Physiotherapy

Pediatric physiotherapy provides assessment and treatment for infants and children whose movement or development may benefit from support. This page outlines the areas we work with and how care connects with related services.

Paediatric physiotherapy from infancy to school age

Our registered physiotherapists assess and treat children across a broad developmental range, from newborns through the early school years. Where a child's needs extend beyond movement, we coordinate care with occupational therapy and speech-language pathology so that assessment and planning consider the whole child.

The first years of life are a period of rapid growth in muscle, bone and the developing nervous system. This adaptability is one reason well-timed physiotherapy can help improve outcomes when a concern is identified early.

Gross-motor milestones and developmental delay

Rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and walking are gross-motor milestones that emerge across a wide and typical range, and timelines vary from child to child. Assessment considers not only whether a milestone has been reached but how a child moves toward it — for example, whether they consistently favour one side or move in a pattern that limits the next stage of development.

An assessment can help clarify whether a child is progressing at their own pace or whether a developmental delay would benefit from physiotherapy support. It can also identify when input from coordinated care, such as occupational therapy or speech-language pathology, may be appropriate.

Torticollis and plagiocephaly

Two common reasons for early referral are torticollis — tightness in the neck muscles that turns or tilts an infant's head to one side — and plagiocephaly, a flattening of the head that can develop with sustained pressure on one area. Congenital muscular torticollis is associated with positional plagiocephaly, and early physiotherapy — ideally before around three months of age — is associated with improved outcomes. Treatment addresses the underlying neck tightness and positioning rather than relying on repositioning alone.

As children grow, the same individualized, play-based approach supports gross-motor development, gait and coordination through the toddler and school-age years.

Fine-motor and sensory needs

Some children need support with fine-motor skills, sensory processing or daily activities such as handwriting, using utensils or managing busy environments. These needs are addressed through coordinated care with occupational therapy, delivered in a way children experience as play. Where speech or language development is a factor, we can connect families with speech-language pathology so that care is organized around the child's full range of needs.