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FAQs

What is pediatric physical therapy?

Physical therapy for children looks a little different than what you typically see for adults or even school-aged athletes. Therapy focuses on childhood development of gross motor skills including things like balance, coordination, and walking. We use various methods and interventions, but everything looks like playtime for the child. Playing is how children build their skills and strength. We use that to the child’s advantage to keep them engaged but growing stronger in their abilities.

Do I need a referral to start therapy for my child?

No, you do not need a referral for your child to get an evaluation and begin physical therapy services. We will contact your child’s pediatrician for a referral once we determine that PT is right for your child.

Does my insurance cover the cost of therapy?

We are contracted with BCBS, TriCare, Medicaid (FFS/SSI/TEFRA, First Choice by Select Health, Molina, Healthy Blue by BlueChoice, Humana Healthy Horizons, and Absolute Total Care). Medicaid plans cover the full cost of therapy with no out-of-pocket expenses for medically necessary services. We will do our best to provide upfront cost estimates for commercial insurance plans, but it is not a guarantee what out-of-pocket expenses you may incur. For all other commercial/private insurance plans, we are happy to file a claim on your behalf. Please refer to our payment policy regarding responsibilities for prompt payment.

What conditions do you treat?

We commonly work with many neurological diagnoses (including Developmental Coordination Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism, Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke), muscular disorders (such as muscle pain/weakness, joint pain/stiffness, torticollis, toe walking), and other developmental delays.

How long does evaluations/treatments typically last?

The short answer - it depends. Therapy times are based off of your child’s abilities. Evaluations span from 30-75 minutes. Treatment sessions range from 30-60 minutes, with 60 minutes being the normal time length. The entire span of your child’s treatment episode could be as short as 3 months to spanning several years. Some children require lifelong therapy. Your child’s therapist will discuss length of treatment at the evaluation and as the child progresses through the treatment program.

When should I seek physical therapy for my child?

As a general rule of thumb, whenever you have mobility concerns for your child you should always reach out to your pediatrician with your questions. You can also contact us for a consultation to discuss those same concerns. Children typically should be:

• Rolling to and from back by 4-5 months

• Sitting without help by 7-8 months

• Creeping on hands and knees by 9-12 months

• Walking unassisted by 12-18 months

• Jumping, catching, and throwing by 2-2.5 years old

• Walking on stairs without parental assistance by 3 years old

• Hopping on one foot, galloping and skipping by 4 years old

• Jumping rope, playing hopscotch, and riding a bike by 5 years old

My child is 3+ years old and walks on her toes most of the day. Should I be concerned?

After age 2, toe walking should be a concern especially if the child walks on her toes more than she does with her heels down. There are various reasons why a child walks on her toes, but the end result is the same - overly tightened calf muscles leading to pain and discomfort. Physical therapy can help provide exercises, stretches, and other resources to assist with decreasing toe walking to decreased risk of injury or need for surgical intervention.