Torticollis- simply means that your child has a tight muscle (Sternocleiodmastoid muscle or SCM) in their neck which causes them to hold their head in an abnormal way. This muscle performs rotation and tilting of the head and when shortened, a child can only look one way severely limiting their ability to visually explore their environment. This condition is extremely common and often unpreventable as it occurs with the position of the baby in utero or while in the birth canal especially with prolonged labor. Physical Therapy is the gold standard of care for the treatment of Torticollis and with that treatment, most children recover with no long-term effects. At CTS, we use best practice guidelines to stretch and then strengthen the affected muscle to help your child have full range of motion in their neck and strength to keep their head in midline. The stretching and strengthening activities are gentle and most often look and feel to your child like play; also you will be included in every aspect of your child’s care. Lastly, your PT will ensure that the gross motor development of your child remains on track despite the tightness in the neck and help mitigate any compensations your child may develop due to that tightness.
Plagiocephaly- Is a diagnosis given when a child has a flattened portion of their head, and is most often associated with Torticollis. As the child is able to only look in one direction, they will also have steady pressure on that side of their head when in a reclined position, and infants spend a huge amount of their time reclined. Physical therapy is often recommended to be part of the care team for the management of this diagnosis. Our team of PTs at CTS will teach you about repositioning strategies to facilitate rounding out the head and provide comprehensive education to support cranial development. They will also facilitate obtaining a cranial remolding helmet if that is necessary for your child. Most children with Plagiocephaly who work with PT will have success in reshaping the head and no long-term effects.
Developmental Delay- The diagnosis of Developmental Delay is given when a child is not hitting motor milestones by an expected age. This could be anything from being unable to sit or walk independently, to not being able to manage self feeding and independent toy manipulation. Physical Therapy is often recommended to address weaknesses and individual challenges leading to the delays in gross motor milestones, and will work as part of the care team for your child. At CTS, we use the best practice guidelines to determine the areas of need for your child and provide comprehensive therapy to help them progress through their developmental milestones. PT looks and feels to your child like play, and you will be included in every aspect of your child’s care to help them fully reach their functional goals. Most children are able to make steady and comprehensive gains due to their work with our team.
Cerebral Palsy- Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a diagnosis given to a child who sustained trauma to the brain while in utero, during delivery, or within the first few months of life. It is considered an umbrella diagnosis because the challenges that a person faces due to this trauma are varied and are as unique to each person as their fingerprint. Our team of PT’s at CTS are highly trained and use best practice guidelines to assess your child fully and determine an individualized plan of care to address their specific needs. They are then able to address whatever those needs are with fun and interactive sessions that your child will be happy to participate in. You will also be educated and included in every aspect of your child’s care. Our team will be there to facilitate any equipment needs, mitigate deficits to help your child perform at their top level of function and provide ongoing support for the family.
Hemiplegia- Hemiplegia is a diagnosis given when one side of the body ( arm, leg and trunk) are weaker than the other side of the body. This is caused by trauma to the brain or spine at any time. This weakness may also be associated with a rigidity or flaccidity of the muscles on that side of the body. At CTS, our specially trained Physical therapists are able to evaluate and produce a plan of care specific to your child and their goals. Despite Hemiplegia, we are able to make great gains using best practice guidelines to help your child reach their full potential. We will facilitate obtaining any equipment necessary to support your child as well as develop a targeted and fun approach to strength and stabilize joints leading to better and safer movement patterns. We will also structure this plan specific to whatever community activities your child would like to participate in. You will be involved and supported along the journey as well to be the best advocate for your child that you can be.
Brachial Plexus Injury- The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves branching off the spinal cord, passing through the neck and down the arm and trunk. It has many responsibilities and an injury to that bundle can cause a variety of weaknesses and compensated movement patterns. Physical therapy is often recommended to be part of the care team in management of this diagnosis. Our team of Physical therapists at CTS will use best practice guidelines to fully assess the challenges your child is having due to the injury and develop an individualized plan of care to address those challenges. The PT sessions that your child attends will target their needs through play and exercise to help them conquer their deficits. Most children with Brachial Plexus injury are able to recover full functional use of the resultant injured area.
Erb’s Palsy- This diagnosis is given when a very specific part of the Brachial Plexus is injured and results in a specific pattern of weakness in the arm on that same side. This type of injury can happen during the birthing process but also with traumatic downward force to the shoulder and upper arm at any time in life. Physical therapy is often recommended to address the weaknesses associated with the trauma, and with therapy, most children experience significant gains in function if not full recovery. At CTS, we use best practice guidelines to fully assess your child and develop a plan of care to address the deficits. Treatment may vary by the severity of the injury and the age of the child, but the sessions will be tailored to your child, interactive and fun. You will be involved in every aspect of your child's care and educated along the way to support their recovery.
Spina Bifida- Spina bifida occurs when there is a malformation of the spinal cord during early development in utero. There are many possible challenges that a child with Spina bifida can face depending on the severity and level of the malformation. Our team of highly trained Physical Therapists at CTS will use best practice guidelines to fully assess your child and develop an individualized plan of care to address your child’s needs. They can facilitate obtaining any equipment that may be beneficial for your child. Your child will participate in weekly sessions filled with games and exercise to help them conquer their challenges and reach their highest level of function, while having fun. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care and supported along the way.
Orthopedic Diagnoses- (ACL/MCL Repairs, Recurrent Dislocations, Shoulder Injuries, Post-surgical, Back Pain) This is just a few of the most common diagnoses we see from an Orthopedic standpoint here at CTS. Our highly trained Physical therapists have great relationships with the Orthopedics in our area and will work within their recommended protocols to progress your child from injury to prior level of function. We use best practice guidelines to establish a plan of care that will take your child’s injury and unique perspective on their injury into account to help them reach their full potential. While most of the work in sessions will be targeted exercises to strengthen and stabilize pinpoint areas related to the injury, there will also be a component of fun added in because we understand the importance of this when working with children. Rest assured that we will incorporate sport specific training into the care plan if this is appropriate for your child and make recommendations if needed to get your little one back on the field. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care to ensure that together we support them to reach their goals.
Toe Walking- This diagnosis seems self explanatory, but at CTS, we know that it is not as simple as it seems. Our highly trained Physical therapists are able to evaluate your child fully to determine the root cause of this type of walking and provide you a variety of treatment options custom to your child's needs. We will use best practice guidelines to target weak and over-lengthened muscles as well as stretch and stabilize shortened ones to help your child have full access to the range of motion an ankle should have. We will provide a fun environment to work on gait, balance, and proprioception training but will also provide you with helpful tips and a home exercise program to ensure that progress is steady. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care so together we can reach the goals of your family.
Down Syndrome- This is a condition in which there are two copies of the Chromosome 21. At CTS, we understand that every child with Down Syndrome is an individual with different strengths and weaknesses. Our highly trained Physical Therapists will be part of your care team to evaluate and determine a plan of care specific to your child. We use best practice guidelines to support your child’s gross motor development through play, while focusing on providing strength and stability. The age of your child does not matter, here at CTS we are able to customize a treatment plan for whatever the goals of the family are. While this is a lifelong condition, physical therapy for your child is not. We will target your child’s immediate needs and develop a plan around successfully accomplishing the strength and stability needed to meet that goal. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care and provided support along the way to be the best advocate for your child’s continued development.
Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome- This diagnosis is given when a group of conditions are noted in a child who was exposed to and experienced withdrawal from certain drugs while in utero. At CTS, we provide a safe and supportive environment to fully evaluate and determine a plan of care for your child. Our Physical therapists will be part of your care team, using best practice guidelines to meet your child where they are and help them progress through their gross motor development. Our PT’s are highly trained and educated to provide support around sensory needs while addressing gross motor delays. Your child will engage in fun, interactive sessions targeting their specific challenges to help them reach their full potential. You will also be involved and supported throughout the journey to ensure that progress is steady.
Seizures- Seizures are uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain which occur suddenly. They can be tricky to diagnose and difficult to treat. Seizures can also cause a variety of challenges motorically and this can be different for each child. Our Physical Therapists at CTS are trained to be able to fully evaluate your child and assess each unique challenge as well as formulate a plan to address and support your child's needs. We will design a unique program and through play, help them conquer their specific challenges. We will be part of your care team to support you and your child along this journey.
Muscular Dystrophy- Muscular Dystrophies are a group of muscular diseases and each of them are a bit different and require a different treatment strategy. Each, however, result in a weakening of muscles in the body and decreased mobility resulting in challenges with every day tasks. At CTS, our highly trained Physical therapists are able to seamlessly integrate into your care team and work in conjunction to set a plan appropriate for your child and their current stage of the disease process. We use best practice guidelines to develop a stability program and, through play, guide your child toward their highest level of safe function. You will be involved in every aspect of your child's care and supported all along the way.
Hypotonia/Low Muscle Tone and Hypertonia/ High Muscle Tone- Both of these names refer to how a child’s muscles feel and function. You may notice that your child feels “floppy” and this is diagnosed as hypotonia. You may feel like your child is stiff as a board and this is diagnosed as hypertonia. Both diagnoses speak to the muscle tone throughout a body. Both of these diagnoses can result, while in different ways, in delayed motor development. At CTS, we provide a fun and interactive environment to fully assess your child’s specific needs and then develop an individualized treatment plan. Our Physical therapists use best practice guidelines to take your child from where they are and help them learn to use their muscles in a better way to progress their development. We also help them, and you, learn strategies for successful milestone achievement. We can support any equipment needs your child may have as well. You will be involved in each aspect of care to ensure that progress is steady.
Chromosomal Abnormalities- There are a variety of diagnoses based on abnormal chromosome structure (deletions, microdeletions, additions, etc) They can be hard to understand, identify or even know what to expect as a result of the diagnosis. Each can result in different musculoskeletal challenges and delays in motor development. But don’t worry because at CTS, we do not focus on the specific diagnosis, we focus on YOUR child. Our highly trained Physical therapists are able to fully assess your child and determine their specific areas of need to then develop an individualized care plan helping them reach their highest level of function. Our sessions are interactive, fun, supportive and based on best practice guidelines for you and your child to ensure that progress is steady. We can support any equipment needs your child may have as well.
Spinal Cord Injury- Most spinal cord injuries are trauma induced. The resulting deficits are dependent on the degree of the injury and the level of the injury. Physical therapy is often recommended and a vital piece of the care plan toward recovery. At CTS, we understand how complicated these injuries can be and scary. Our team of Physical therapists are highly trained and will use best care guidelines to fully assess your child’s needs and develop a care plan to help them reach their highest level of function. Most often equipment is needed and we can help navigate that for you too. Our sessions are educational, fun and interactive to ensure that progress is steady and goals are clear. You will be involved in each aspect of your child’s care and supported along this journey.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)- SMA is a complex, progressive diagnosis in which motor neurons are destroyed. This can affect all movement throughout the body. Prognosis and deficit are dependent on the type of SMA. Physical therapy is often recommended and a vital part of the care plan. At CTS, our team of highly trained PTs are able to fully assess your child and then determine an individualized plan of care to help them reach their full functional potential. We will offer a supportive, fun and interactive environment to ensure that your child’s needs are met and progress is steady. We will be there to help navigate any equipment needs as well.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta- OI is known as brittle bone disease because with this diagnosis bones break easily and often with no known injury or with very small pressure. There are many types of OI and prognosis as well as treatment plans vary based on the type. Physical therapy is often recommended and a vital part of the care plan. At CTS, we understand how complicated this diagnosis can be and the needs of each child with OI is different. Our team of highly trained PTs will fully assess your child and develop an individualized care plan to help your child safely achieve their highest level of function. We will provide a fun, interactive, and supportive environment using best practice guidelines. We are also able to help navigate any equipment needs. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care to ensure progress is steady.
Rett Syndrome- Rett syndrome is a very rare neurological disorder. It is considered to be on the autism spectrum of diagnoses and causes significant impairment to motor function. This is a very complex disorder requiring a robust care team and Physical therapy is often recommended to be part of that team. At CTS, our team of highly trained PTs are able to fully assess your child and determine a comprehensive care plan using best practice guidelines. You and your child will be supported throughout this journey with fun, interactive sessions focusing on stability and functional gains. We are also able to help navigate any equipment needs your child may have. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care to ensure progress is steady.
Plagiocephaly- Is a diagnosis given when a child has a flattened portion of their head, and is most often associated with Torticollis. As the child is able to only look in one direction, they will also have steady pressure on that side of their head when in a reclined position, and infants spend a huge amount of their time reclined. Physical therapy is often recommended to be part of the care team for the management of this diagnosis. Our team of PTs at CTS will teach you about repositioning strategies to facilitate rounding out the head and provide comprehensive education to support cranial development. They will also facilitate obtaining a cranial remolding helmet if that is necessary for your child. Most children with Plagiocephaly who work with PT will have success in reshaping the head and no long-term effects.
Developmental Delay- The diagnosis of Developmental Delay is given when a child is not hitting motor milestones by an expected age. This could be anything from being unable to sit or walk independently, to not being able to manage self feeding and independent toy manipulation. Physical Therapy is often recommended to address weaknesses and individual challenges leading to the delays in gross motor milestones, and will work as part of the care team for your child. At CTS, we use the best practice guidelines to determine the areas of need for your child and provide comprehensive therapy to help them progress through their developmental milestones. PT looks and feels to your child like play, and you will be included in every aspect of your child’s care to help them fully reach their functional goals. Most children are able to make steady and comprehensive gains due to their work with our team.
Cerebral Palsy- Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a diagnosis given to a child who sustained trauma to the brain while in utero, during delivery, or within the first few months of life. It is considered an umbrella diagnosis because the challenges that a person faces due to this trauma are varied and are as unique to each person as their fingerprint. Our team of PT’s at CTS are highly trained and use best practice guidelines to assess your child fully and determine an individualized plan of care to address their specific needs. They are then able to address whatever those needs are with fun and interactive sessions that your child will be happy to participate in. You will also be educated and included in every aspect of your child’s care. Our team will be there to facilitate any equipment needs, mitigate deficits to help your child perform at their top level of function and provide ongoing support for the family.
Hemiplegia- Hemiplegia is a diagnosis given when one side of the body ( arm, leg and trunk) are weaker than the other side of the body. This is caused by trauma to the brain or spine at any time. This weakness may also be associated with a rigidity or flaccidity of the muscles on that side of the body. At CTS, our specially trained Physical therapists are able to evaluate and produce a plan of care specific to your child and their goals. Despite Hemiplegia, we are able to make great gains using best practice guidelines to help your child reach their full potential. We will facilitate obtaining any equipment necessary to support your child as well as develop a targeted and fun approach to strength and stabilize joints leading to better and safer movement patterns. We will also structure this plan specific to whatever community activities your child would like to participate in. You will be involved and supported along the journey as well to be the best advocate for your child that you can be.
Brachial Plexus Injury- The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves branching off the spinal cord, passing through the neck and down the arm and trunk. It has many responsibilities and an injury to that bundle can cause a variety of weaknesses and compensated movement patterns. Physical therapy is often recommended to be part of the care team in management of this diagnosis. Our team of Physical therapists at CTS will use best practice guidelines to fully assess the challenges your child is having due to the injury and develop an individualized plan of care to address those challenges. The PT sessions that your child attends will target their needs through play and exercise to help them conquer their deficits. Most children with Brachial Plexus injury are able to recover full functional use of the resultant injured area.
Erb’s Palsy- This diagnosis is given when a very specific part of the Brachial Plexus is injured and results in a specific pattern of weakness in the arm on that same side. This type of injury can happen during the birthing process but also with traumatic downward force to the shoulder and upper arm at any time in life. Physical therapy is often recommended to address the weaknesses associated with the trauma, and with therapy, most children experience significant gains in function if not full recovery. At CTS, we use best practice guidelines to fully assess your child and develop a plan of care to address the deficits. Treatment may vary by the severity of the injury and the age of the child, but the sessions will be tailored to your child, interactive and fun. You will be involved in every aspect of your child's care and educated along the way to support their recovery.
Spina Bifida- Spina bifida occurs when there is a malformation of the spinal cord during early development in utero. There are many possible challenges that a child with Spina bifida can face depending on the severity and level of the malformation. Our team of highly trained Physical Therapists at CTS will use best practice guidelines to fully assess your child and develop an individualized plan of care to address your child’s needs. They can facilitate obtaining any equipment that may be beneficial for your child. Your child will participate in weekly sessions filled with games and exercise to help them conquer their challenges and reach their highest level of function, while having fun. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care and supported along the way.
Orthopedic Diagnoses- (ACL/MCL Repairs, Recurrent Dislocations, Shoulder Injuries, Post-surgical, Back Pain) This is just a few of the most common diagnoses we see from an Orthopedic standpoint here at CTS. Our highly trained Physical therapists have great relationships with the Orthopedics in our area and will work within their recommended protocols to progress your child from injury to prior level of function. We use best practice guidelines to establish a plan of care that will take your child’s injury and unique perspective on their injury into account to help them reach their full potential. While most of the work in sessions will be targeted exercises to strengthen and stabilize pinpoint areas related to the injury, there will also be a component of fun added in because we understand the importance of this when working with children. Rest assured that we will incorporate sport specific training into the care plan if this is appropriate for your child and make recommendations if needed to get your little one back on the field. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care to ensure that together we support them to reach their goals.
Toe Walking- This diagnosis seems self explanatory, but at CTS, we know that it is not as simple as it seems. Our highly trained Physical therapists are able to evaluate your child fully to determine the root cause of this type of walking and provide you a variety of treatment options custom to your child's needs. We will use best practice guidelines to target weak and over-lengthened muscles as well as stretch and stabilize shortened ones to help your child have full access to the range of motion an ankle should have. We will provide a fun environment to work on gait, balance, and proprioception training but will also provide you with helpful tips and a home exercise program to ensure that progress is steady. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care so together we can reach the goals of your family.
Down Syndrome- This is a condition in which there are two copies of the Chromosome 21. At CTS, we understand that every child with Down Syndrome is an individual with different strengths and weaknesses. Our highly trained Physical Therapists will be part of your care team to evaluate and determine a plan of care specific to your child. We use best practice guidelines to support your child’s gross motor development through play, while focusing on providing strength and stability. The age of your child does not matter, here at CTS we are able to customize a treatment plan for whatever the goals of the family are. While this is a lifelong condition, physical therapy for your child is not. We will target your child’s immediate needs and develop a plan around successfully accomplishing the strength and stability needed to meet that goal. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care and provided support along the way to be the best advocate for your child’s continued development.
Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome- This diagnosis is given when a group of conditions are noted in a child who was exposed to and experienced withdrawal from certain drugs while in utero. At CTS, we provide a safe and supportive environment to fully evaluate and determine a plan of care for your child. Our Physical therapists will be part of your care team, using best practice guidelines to meet your child where they are and help them progress through their gross motor development. Our PT’s are highly trained and educated to provide support around sensory needs while addressing gross motor delays. Your child will engage in fun, interactive sessions targeting their specific challenges to help them reach their full potential. You will also be involved and supported throughout the journey to ensure that progress is steady.
Seizures- Seizures are uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain which occur suddenly. They can be tricky to diagnose and difficult to treat. Seizures can also cause a variety of challenges motorically and this can be different for each child. Our Physical Therapists at CTS are trained to be able to fully evaluate your child and assess each unique challenge as well as formulate a plan to address and support your child's needs. We will design a unique program and through play, help them conquer their specific challenges. We will be part of your care team to support you and your child along this journey.
Muscular Dystrophy- Muscular Dystrophies are a group of muscular diseases and each of them are a bit different and require a different treatment strategy. Each, however, result in a weakening of muscles in the body and decreased mobility resulting in challenges with every day tasks. At CTS, our highly trained Physical therapists are able to seamlessly integrate into your care team and work in conjunction to set a plan appropriate for your child and their current stage of the disease process. We use best practice guidelines to develop a stability program and, through play, guide your child toward their highest level of safe function. You will be involved in every aspect of your child's care and supported all along the way.
Hypotonia/Low Muscle Tone and Hypertonia/ High Muscle Tone- Both of these names refer to how a child’s muscles feel and function. You may notice that your child feels “floppy” and this is diagnosed as hypotonia. You may feel like your child is stiff as a board and this is diagnosed as hypertonia. Both diagnoses speak to the muscle tone throughout a body. Both of these diagnoses can result, while in different ways, in delayed motor development. At CTS, we provide a fun and interactive environment to fully assess your child’s specific needs and then develop an individualized treatment plan. Our Physical therapists use best practice guidelines to take your child from where they are and help them learn to use their muscles in a better way to progress their development. We also help them, and you, learn strategies for successful milestone achievement. We can support any equipment needs your child may have as well. You will be involved in each aspect of care to ensure that progress is steady.
Chromosomal Abnormalities- There are a variety of diagnoses based on abnormal chromosome structure (deletions, microdeletions, additions, etc) They can be hard to understand, identify or even know what to expect as a result of the diagnosis. Each can result in different musculoskeletal challenges and delays in motor development. But don’t worry because at CTS, we do not focus on the specific diagnosis, we focus on YOUR child. Our highly trained Physical therapists are able to fully assess your child and determine their specific areas of need to then develop an individualized care plan helping them reach their highest level of function. Our sessions are interactive, fun, supportive and based on best practice guidelines for you and your child to ensure that progress is steady. We can support any equipment needs your child may have as well.
Spinal Cord Injury- Most spinal cord injuries are trauma induced. The resulting deficits are dependent on the degree of the injury and the level of the injury. Physical therapy is often recommended and a vital piece of the care plan toward recovery. At CTS, we understand how complicated these injuries can be and scary. Our team of Physical therapists are highly trained and will use best care guidelines to fully assess your child’s needs and develop a care plan to help them reach their highest level of function. Most often equipment is needed and we can help navigate that for you too. Our sessions are educational, fun and interactive to ensure that progress is steady and goals are clear. You will be involved in each aspect of your child’s care and supported along this journey.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)- SMA is a complex, progressive diagnosis in which motor neurons are destroyed. This can affect all movement throughout the body. Prognosis and deficit are dependent on the type of SMA. Physical therapy is often recommended and a vital part of the care plan. At CTS, our team of highly trained PTs are able to fully assess your child and then determine an individualized plan of care to help them reach their full functional potential. We will offer a supportive, fun and interactive environment to ensure that your child’s needs are met and progress is steady. We will be there to help navigate any equipment needs as well.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta- OI is known as brittle bone disease because with this diagnosis bones break easily and often with no known injury or with very small pressure. There are many types of OI and prognosis as well as treatment plans vary based on the type. Physical therapy is often recommended and a vital part of the care plan. At CTS, we understand how complicated this diagnosis can be and the needs of each child with OI is different. Our team of highly trained PTs will fully assess your child and develop an individualized care plan to help your child safely achieve their highest level of function. We will provide a fun, interactive, and supportive environment using best practice guidelines. We are also able to help navigate any equipment needs. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care to ensure progress is steady.
Rett Syndrome- Rett syndrome is a very rare neurological disorder. It is considered to be on the autism spectrum of diagnoses and causes significant impairment to motor function. This is a very complex disorder requiring a robust care team and Physical therapy is often recommended to be part of that team. At CTS, our team of highly trained PTs are able to fully assess your child and determine a comprehensive care plan using best practice guidelines. You and your child will be supported throughout this journey with fun, interactive sessions focusing on stability and functional gains. We are also able to help navigate any equipment needs your child may have. You will be involved in every aspect of your child’s care to ensure progress is steady.