Pediatric Rehabilitation Programs
Pediatric Physical Therapy is often prescribed for children who have gross motor disorders, including Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Down Syndrome, or other neuromuscular disorders. The “Intensive Physical Therapy” model, which was originally inspired by Eastern European methods pioneered in the 1970’s, has been emerging in North America as an effective way to create functional skills in children who have non-progressive neuromuscular disorders. Euro-Peds® out of Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan in Pontiac, Michigan, was the first clinic to introduce Intensive Pediatric Physical Therapy to the U.S. in 1999. As word spread about the success of intensive therapy and suit therapy, Euro-Peds® began treating a nationwide base of children. The clinic was eventually re-named Euro-Peds® National Center for Intensive Pediatric PT. As of 2010, Euro-Peds has rehabilitated over 900 children and young adults from virtually every U.S. state, Canada, Jamaica, and as far away as Portugal.
Why “Intensive Pediatric Physical Therapy"?
A traditional physical therapy session typically lasts only 45-minutes to an hour once or twice per week and a school-based therapist has even less time to work with a child.
In an intensive physical therapy session, individualized treatment sessions are 2-, 3- or 4-weeks in length for up to 4 hours per day, 5 days per week. Research has shown that children are more likely to learn new and lasting skills through individualized and intense bouts of therapy focusing on strengthening, alignment, balance, proprioception, and functional activities.
After the child learns a new skill during their intensive sessions, they are encouraged to maintain their strength and skills using traditional PT, School PT, Occupational Therapy or Speech Therapy.
Since intensive PT’s have much more time to work with the child, they also are required to learn extra techniques using specialized tools. Some of the unique tools often used during the long treatment sessions are the European-inspired Euro-Peds Suit Therapy and the Universal Exercise Unit (UEU).
For information or an online application, go to www.europeds.org or call 1-248-857-6776.
