Shriners Hospitals for Children® offers occupational and physical therapy treatments to children who have spinal cord injuries, orthopaedic conditions, and burn and wound issues. Our overall goal of occupational and physical therapy is to teach children, their families and caregivers exercises, techniques and daily activities to:
- Improve range of motion
- Strengthen muscles, joints and tendons
- Enhance mobility and flexibility
- Learn to walk
- Perform daily activities such as dressing, hygiene and self-feeding
- Achieve functional independence
Shriners Hospitals for Children® physical therapy programs are extensive and tailored to your child’s specific condition, symptoms and other factors that their medical team feels are important for their treatment plan. Therapy is done in both individual and group settings, and as both an inpatient and outpatient service. Your child will work with specially trained therapists who have many innovative resources and tools available, incorporating traditional and unconventional therapies.
Our activity therapies include:
Adaptive: Our adaptive therapy centers are really outdoor playtime, disguised as physical therapy. Using interactive equipment, your child works with their therapists toward their specific goals in a non-clinical, welcoming environment.
Virtual: Virtual therapy at Shriners Hospitals for Children® includes Wii® and GameBike equipment where children are working on their range of motion by physically navigating through a fun activity or game without a rehabilitative feel.
Functional Electrical Stimulation: Part of Shriners Hospitals for Children® physical therapy treatment includes FES, which helps restore functions through the use of electric currents to make sure the brain and specific muscles and organs are communicating. Children will use our stationary bikes, ParaStep and Bioness as part of their physical therapy regimens.
Aquatic therapy: Some patients may require non-weight bearing therapies. Shriners Hospitals for Children® aqua therapists work with children in a temperature-controlled hydrotherapy pool using aquatic treadmills and other equipment geared for your child’s treatment plan.