By Sydney MacKay, BSN • Kids Physio Group – Kelowna
As parents and caregivers, we celebrate every little milestone–the first roll, the first steps, the first jump off the couch. But when movement doesn’t come easily, pediatric physiotherapy steps in to help. It’s more than just therapy–it’s a partnership between families and skilled professionals who understand how babies, kids, and teens grow, play, and thrive.
At its core, pediatric physiotherapy focuses on supporting the physical development, movement, and overall well-being of infants, children, and teenagers. While many people are familiar with physiotherapy in the context of adult rehabilitation–such as recovering from surgery, managing chronic pain, or improving mobility after injury–pediatric physiotherapy is designed with an entirely different lens. Children aren’t just smaller adults; they have unique bodies, needs, and ways of engaging with the world.
That means pediatric physiotherapists must combine clinical knowledge with creativity, playfulness, and flexibility. Children are naturally curious and imaginative, and their engagement in therapy is often driven by enjoyment, not obligation. Attention spans are shorter, motivation may ebb and flow quickly, and therapy goals need to be blended into games and play. For a physiotherapist working with kids, success often hinges on building trust and rapport, and knowing how to turn even the most challenging exercises into something fun and meaningful.
The scope of pediatric physiotherapy is wide-ranging. It includes working on gross motor milestones such as rolling, crawling, walking, jumping, or climbing stairs, as well as developing balance, strength, coordination, and body awareness. For older children and teens, therapy may support injury recovery, postural improvements, or sport-specific conditioning. It’s also about more than physical skills–physiotherapists help children develop physical literacy, which is the motivation, confidence, and knowledge to enjoy movement throughout their lives.
Every treatment plan is customized based on the child’s age, interests, abilities, and goals. For example, a toddler who is delayed in walking might engage in therapy through obstacle courses, animal walks, and push toys. A school-aged child with poor coordination might practice movement through climbing games or playing catch with a balloon. A teenager recovering from a knee injury might focus on strength-building through sport-specific drills that mimic real gameplay. The key is that therapy is child-centered and adaptable.
Pediatric physiotherapists support children at all stages of development, from infancy through adolescence. In the baby stage, therapy often addresses conditions like torticollis (a tight neck muscle that causes head tilt), plagiocephaly (flattening of one part of the head), and gross motor delays. Parents are often active participants, learning strategies they can use at home, such as positioning techniques, stretches, and purposeful play.
In early childhood, therapists might treat toe walking, W-sitting, in-toeing, and other motor concerns that can affect posture and functional movement. They also support children who may be delayed in achieving milestones such as jumping, riding a tricycle, or climbing playground structures. Therapy during this time is often high-energy and play-based, helping kids build the foundational skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives.
By the time children reach school age, more complex issues may arise. Pediatric physiotherapists often work with children who are recovering from orthopedic injuries, such as fractures or sprains, or who have been diagnosed with concussions and need gradual reintroduction to school and sports. They also support kids with scoliosis, helping improve posture and core strength, and may work on endurance and mobility with children managing conditions like juvenile arthritis.
An important and sometimes lesser-known area of pediatric physiotherapy is pelvic health. Children with issues such as constipation, incontinence, or bedwetting may benefit from physiotherapy interventions that strengthen and add awareness and control of the pelvic floor, support healthy toileting habits, and improve core and postural control. These sessions are handled with sensitivity and care, involve no internal examinations, and most often use child-friendly visuals and language to help children understand their bodies and build confidence.
Pediatric physiotherapists also play a key role in supporting children with lifelong or complex conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and genetic syndromes that impact motor development. In these cases, therapy may be focused on improving mobility, preventing secondary complications (like joint contractures), and enhancing independence. Sessions often use adaptive equipment such as walkers, standers, orthotics, or mobility aids, and therapists may collaborate closely with families, schools, and other healthcare providers to ensure continuity.
Therapists are trained to work with children who experience the world differently–particularly those with sensory or emotional regulation needs, such as children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These children may need a calm, structured approach or a dynamic, movement-rich session. Techniques like deep pressure, weighted play, swinging, and heavy work help regulate sensory input and support a child’s ability to focus and engage. A child who starts a session feeling dysregulated or overstimulated can often be guided into a state of calm through thoughtful sensory activities.
Pediatric physiotherapy is also highly collaborative. Physiotherapists regularly work alongside occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, behaviour specialists, physicians, psychologists, educators, coaches, and other professionals. A team-based approach ensures the child is supported in every area of their life and can more quickly reach meaningful goals.
At the heart of pediatric physiotherapy is the belief that movement should be joyful. Therapy isn’t just about exercises or checklists–it’s about helping children discover what their bodies can do in a safe, positive, and supportive environment. No matter a child’s age or ability, pediatric physiotherapy aims to make movement fun, empowering, and meaningful–allowing kids to reach their goals while exploring their full potential through play.
If you want to learn more about pediatric physiotherapy, reach out to our clinic here in the Okanagan, Kids Physio Group-Kelowna, and we will be happy to share this incredible environment with you.
We are Kids Physio Group-Kelowna and we’re proud to deliver quality, and fun pediatric physiotherapy for kids to the Okanagan! Our clinic provides physiotherapy services for children aged newborn to 18 years, for injuries, gross motor development, developmental disabilities, and specialty areas including infant feeding, pelvic health, scoliosis, and concussion care in Kelowna.