Specialized Care for Pediatric Patients

Adults aren't the only ones who need rehabilitation therapy to maximize their physical, mental and social abilities. Some children and adolescents also need specialized services to build strength, achieve their functional potential and develop the skills they need at thome, at school and within their communities. Children may benefit from rehabilitation services if they have or are recovering from:

• Birth defects or birth injuries


• Neurological, musculoskeletal or rheumatological conditions


• Developmental delays


• Feeding problems


• Acute traumas


• Bone fractures and other orthopedic problems


• Accidents


• Injuries


• Burns


• Cancer


• Surgery


• Chronic diseases (such as sickle cell, heart or kidney diseases)
  

A Team Approach

Kids who need rehabilitation services receive care from a mulitdisciplinary team of specialists who are trained to handle the unique needs of pediatric patients. The team includes physical, occupational and speech therapists who evaluate and assess the child's functional limitations.

Rehabilitation specialists design individual treatment plans to help mazimize patients' independence and the quality of their lives. Team members use a variety of techniques and technologies that can help:

• Support patients' growth and development


• Prevent future complications and impairments


• Relieve pain


• Improve kids' cognitive abilities


• Improve strength, coordination, range of motion and fine motor skills


• Relax muscles


• Develop kids' self-care skills


• Enhance speech and language skills


• Teach kids' how to use wheelchairs, braces and other assistive devices
  

Short and Long Term Care

Some pediatric patients may need only short-term rehabilitation therapy to address certain acute injuries or issues. Rehabilitation, however, can play a major role in health care for kids with complex, lifelong conditions.

While children and adolescents undergoing therapy may be tackling difficult issues, rehabilitation professionals provide services in an age-appropriate way that keeps pediatric patients engaged. For example, therapists may use fun activities to help kids develop key coordination, motor and hand-eye skills that may improve their walking, feeding or handwriting skills. The gains children make during rehabilitation therapy often help boost their self-confidence and self-esteem, giving them a sense of accomplishment.

Developments in Pediatric Therapy

>>Kristine Trimble, Alicia Lutman and Heather Smith comprise the pediatric rehabilitation team at Fauquier Health. The pediatric office is located at 493 Blackwell Road in the Warrenton Professional Center in Warrenton, Virginia. Over the past few months, the rooms have been renovated and updated. New therapeutic tools have also been added, which the children see as "new toys".

Kristine Trimble, PT, DPT is the pediatric physical therapist who provides therapy for children with torticollis, gross motor delays, traumatic brain injuries, acquired brain injuries, cerebral palsy and dyspraxia. She also implements aquatic therapy.

Alicia Lutman, MOTR/L, ATC is the pediatric occupational therapist who works with children with fine motor delays, visual processing deficits, autism, developmental delays, traumatic brain injuries and handwriting difficulties.

Heather Smith, MS, CFY-SLP is the pediatric speech lauguage pathologist who works with children with receptive and expressive language delays, apraxia, feeding delays, autism, developmental delays, articulation/phonological processing disorders, and acquired and traumatic brain injuries.

Fauquier Health is the only local facility to offer physical, occupational and speech therapies all at one convenient, child-friendly location. If you need further information please call 540-316-2680. Or click on the button below to ask a question or request additional information. Your email will be answered within 24 business hours.