A pediatric physical therapist helps children build strength, balance, coordination, mobility, and motor skills so they can move and participate in daily activities (playing, school, sports, self-care) as independently and safely as possible. Physucal theropaists can help with issues including:
- Delays in gross motor milestones (rolling, sitting, crawling, walking)
- Balance/coordination issues (frequent falls, clumsiness)
- Torticollis / head tilt and plagiocephaly (flat head positioning support)
- Toe-walking
- Low muscle tone (hypotonia) or high tone/spasticity
- Sports or orthopedic injuries (sprains, fractures recovery)
- Post-surgery rehab or mobility training
- Neurologic conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy, spina bifida)
- Gait abnormalities or pain with activity
UAMS pediatric physical therapy (PT)—including services offered through UAMS Kids First—focuses on helping infants, toddlers, and preschoolers build the gross-motor skills they need for everyday movement and participation. PT services are grounded in early and regular developmental assessments to identify each child’s strengths and needs, then target foundational skills that support how a child moves and functions in daily routines.
