Our pediatric physical therapists are health care professionals who are movement specialists addressing medical problems or other health-related conditions that affect a child's ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Our physical therapists use treatment activities and techniques that promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. Our physical therapists also work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. Pediatric physical therapy uses play and fun activities to entice children to work hard and exercise to promote the highest level of independent function.

Our pediatric speech language pathologists serve children and their families to address typical and atypical communication and feeding skills. Common treatment techniques may include oral motor strengthening and range of motion exercises, reciprocal interaction through modeling and play, training on the use of audio-visual aids, the use of assistive technology, and strategies to facilitate functional communication.

Our pediatric occupational therapists work with children and their families to help develop and master skills in the following areas: play skills, fine motor skills, self-care skills, feeding and swallowing skills, and sensory processing.   Treatment techniques promote function and engagement in meaningful occupations, remediate disability, and provide education and support to families. Our pediatric occupational therapists focus on upper extremity strength and coordination, trunk strength and stability, specific self-care tasks, oral sensory and oral motor development, safety in swallowing, and sensory modulation and discrimination.  The child's primary occupation of play is utilized to encourage active participation in our therapy sessions.

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is an innovative, evidence-based rehabilitation approach developed by Dr. Edward Taub at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Some children who have neuromotor conditions will often use their stronger hand and neglect to use their weaker hand. This is called developmental or learned non-use. CIMT encourages neuroplasticity, or the “re-wiring” of the brain, to improve arm and hand function. It is an intensive therapy program where children are seen for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks. 

UP’s CIMT program is aimed at improving the use of affected arm, hand, and fingers, skills to care for self (dressing, feeding, etc.), upper extremity strength and coordination. Please contact our CIMT lead OT at [email protected] or the direct line (949)556-9992 for questions and enrollment information for CIMT.