Physical Therapy

Better Movement, Better Function

Pediatric physical therapist works with a girl balancing on her stomach in a gym.

Nemours experts in pediatric physical therapy work with kids and teens to maximize their strength, gross motor skills, coordination, balance and endurance. Our physical therapists work to decrease pain and help children manage daily activities, as well improve their movement, strength and range of motion. We also teach kids and families how to minimize the chance of future injuries.

Learn More About Physical Therapy »

Conditions We Treat

Kids may need physical therapy (PT) services any time a problem with movement limits their daily activities. Doctors often recommend physical therapy for children and teens with an injury or movement problems from an illness, disease or disability.

We see a full spectrum of conditions — far too many to list here. The conditions we treat vary depending upon the location and providers selected. Don’t see a condition listed? Call us.

birth defects (such as spina bifida, Down syndrome)
cerebral palsy
concussions (and other head injuries)
developmental delays or disabilities
effects of exposure to maternal use of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy
genetic disorders
heart conditions
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
limb deformities or problems
lung conditions
neuromuscular disorders
orthopedic conditions and injuries
sports injuries
trauma

Services We Offer

We offer comprehensive pediatric physical therapy services, which may vary depending upon the condition and location:

activities of daily living (ADL) training (to help with basics like eating and bathing)
activities to build endurance
activities to enhance coordination and balance
adaptive/assistive device training (to help with the use of any device that makes it easier for a child to perform a function)
aquatic therapy (in-pool exercise, where available, to improve muscle strength and endurance)
concussion management
gait training (to improve how a child walks)
hand therapy (to help children with hand deformities, conditions or injuries)
increasing overall fitness, range of motion and flexibility
Interactive Metronome® (a computer tool to help with things like motor planning, sensory processing and attention)
learning to use a prosthetic (an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part, such as an arm or leg)
muscle strengthening
pain management
postural training (exercises and techniques to help improve posture)
sports medicine therapy

Why Choose Us

At Nemours, your child benefits from a team approach to care that may include board-certified pediatric surgeons, physicians and physical therapists — all specifically trained in kid-friendly care. We also consult with the rest of your care team, including occupational therapists (OTs), orthopedists, neurologists, assistive device experts and even school personnel to make sure we’re creating a plan that meets your child’s functional needs in every setting.

Regional Pediatric Physical Therapy Highlights

Services, programs and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.

Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia

We offer comprehensive physical therapy at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (Wilmington, Del.) and select Nemours duPont Pediatrics satellite locations.

pediatric specialty programs at the hospital named among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report
only pediatric rehabilitation program in the greater Philadelphia region accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
pediatric therapy pool on-site at the hospital (the largest of its kind in the tristate area), as well as at Nemours duPont Pediatrics, Deptord (in Deptford, N.J.)
adaptive therapy activities (like dance, karate, swimming and yoga)
new state-of-the-art Rehabilitation and Inpatient Therapy Center
only pediatric hospital in the tristate region with a Gait Analysis Lab — one of only seven in the country with full accreditation from the Commission for Motion Laboratory Accreditation (CMLA), for “demonstrating the highest level of clinical and technical excellence in movement analysis”
integration with world-class programs (e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, orthopedics)
participation in special clinics for arthrogryposis multiplex congenital (AMC), cleft palate, Down syndrome, feeding issues, hand deformities and injuries, muscle problems, seating/wheelchair issues, spinal dysfunction and voice problems
Center for Sports Medicine, the region’s largest pediatric sports medicine facility for sports- and activity-related injuries, as well as therapy gyms at select satellite locations
latest technologies in assistive devices, customized bracing, prosthetics and orthotics on-site
Ronald McDonald House of Delaware , right across from our campus, for an affordable home away from home during long hospital stays

Central Florida

We offer comprehensive physical therapy at Nemours Children’s Hospital (Orlando).

unique treatment settings, like our outdoor Discovery Garden that integrates therapy with healing, nature and sensory exploration
one of only four multispecialty pediatric inpatient rehabilitation programs in all of Florida — and the only one in Central Florida
only pediatric rehabilitation program in the state of Florida located in a freestanding children’s hospital
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) apartment to practice skills such as dressing, eating, personal hygiene/grooming, and using equipment to transfer from wheelchair to bed or tub bench
advanced pediatric medical imaging services available on-site
integration with world-class programs (brain and spinal cord injuries, diseases of the nervous system, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy)
latest technologies in assistive devices, customized bracing, prosthetics and orthotics on-site
Ronald McDonald House on campus, for an affordable home away from home during long hospital stays