What do Paediatric Physiotherapists do?

Paediatric physiotherapists work in partnership with children, young people, families, schools and other health professionals to help children and young people to maximise their physical abilities, health and wellbeing. This may mean working with you in Child Centres, out-patient clinics, hospital, at home, at nursery, at school or local leisure centres.
Paediatric Physiotherapists will listen to what matters to you and your child. We will work with you and your family to help you achieve your goals and join together with other agencies to support the health and wellbeing of the child/young person and their family and/or providing an assessment of the child/young person’s needs. Following this we will work with you to offer advice or develop a care plan to meet the needs of the child/young person.

Paediatric Physiotherapists can help with a wide range of conditions, motor development and acute illness and injury. Below is a list of reasons you might see a physiotherapist:

• Neurological conditions e.g. Cerebral Palsy, Head Injury
• Congenital Conditions and Syndromes e.g. Spina Bifida, Down Syndrome
• Neuromuscular disorders e.g. Muscular Dystrophy
• Respiratory conditions e.g. Cystic Fibrosis
• Rheumatological Conditions e.g. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Developmental delay
• Conditions where mobility is affected
• Coordination problems
• Neonatal care
• Acute injuries e.g. following trauma
• Musculoskeletal problems
• After surgery rehabilitation
• Burns and plastics

The Role of the Community Physiotherapy Support Worker

The Physiotherapy Clinical Support Workers are part of the Physiotherapy Service delivering intervention to children, young people and their families under the direction of a qualified Physiotherapist.
The Physiotherapist will agree a therapy plan with you and the Support Worker will work with your child/young person in the most appropriate setting to carry out this plan.
The Support Worker will feedback regularly to the Physiotherapist on the progress of the therapy plan. The Physiotherapist will retain overall responsibility of care for the child and young person.

Physiotherapy Teams within Greater Glasgow & Clyde (GG&C)