Paediatric Physio

Physi Kids – Helping Children Move, Grow & Thrive

Children’s bodies are constantly growing and changing. From learning to crawl and walk, to participating in sport and playground activities, movement plays a vital role in a child’s development.

Paediatric physiotherapy focuses on helping babies, children and adolescents develop strength, coordination, confidence and healthy movement patterns so they can participate fully in everyday life.

At The Sports Physio Clinic, our paediatric physiotherapists from Physi Kids work with children of all ages – from newborns through to teenagers – supporting their development at every stage.

Many childhood conditions respond extremely well to early physiotherapy intervention, helping children reach their full potential both in the playground and on the sporting field.

What Is Paediatric Physiotherapy?

Paediatric physiotherapy is a specialised area of physiotherapy focused on the assessment, treatment and development of growing bodies.

Children are not simply “small adults.” Their bones, muscles, joints and nervous systems are developing rapidly, meaning treatment needs to be age-appropriate, engaging and tailored to their stage of growth.

Treatment often incorporates:

  • movement-based activities and play
  • strength and coordination exercises
  • balance and motor skill development
  • flexibility and mobility training
  • sport-specific injury rehabilitation

Paediatric physiotherapists also work closely with parents, teachers, coaches and other health professionals to ensure each child receives coordinated care.

Successful paediatric physiotherapy often involves a team approach. Our physiotherapists frequently collaborate with:

  • Paediatricians
  • General Practitioners
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Speech Pathologists
  • Teachers and educators
  • Parents and caregivers

This collaborative approach ensures children receive comprehensive support to achieve their goals.

Babies (0 – 12 months).

In the first year of life, babies develop critical motor skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling and standing.

Sometimes babies need a little extra support to reach these milestones.

Common reasons for physiotherapy include:

  • Torticollis (tight neck muscles)
  • Plagiocephaly (flat head)
  • Talipes (clubfoot)
  • Developmental hip dysplasia
  • Delayed motor milestones
  • Asymmetrical movement patterns

Early physiotherapy can help improve movement patterns and support healthy development during this important period of growth.

Toddler & Pre-School Children.

As children begin walking, running and exploring their environment, physiotherapy may help address movement patterns that affect coordination or confidence.

Common concerns include:

  • delayed walking or gross motor skills
  • toe walking
  • poor balance or coordination
  • frequent falls
  • flat feet
  • intoeing (pigeon-toed walking)
  • knock knees

Treatment is often delivered through fun, play-based exercises that build strength, coordination and confidence.

School Aged Children.

As children become more active at school and in sport, physiotherapy often focuses on movement efficiency, posture and injury prevention.

Common concerns include:

  • postural concerns
  • hypermobility
  • coordination difficulties
  • growth-related muscle tightness
  • sport injuries
  • gait (walking or running) concerns

Paediatric physiotherapy can help children develop strong movement foundations that support lifelong physical activity.

Teenagers & Young Athletes.

During adolescence, rapid growth and increased sporting participation can place stress on developing joints and muscles.

Physiotherapy may assist with:

  • sporting injuries
  • overuse injuries
  • growth-related pain (e.g. Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sever’s disease)
  • bone stress injuries
  • joint instability or subluxations
  • return-to-sport rehabilitation

Guided strength and conditioning programs can help young athletes stay healthy, strong and performing at their best.

What Conditions Do Physi Kids Treat?

  • Developmental conditions
  • Developmental delay
  • Coordination difficulties
  • Neurological or neuromuscular conditions
  • Genetic conditions
  • Musculoskeletal concerns
  • Hypermobility
  • Postural problems
  • Joint instability
  • Growth-related injuries
  • Gait and movement concerns
  • Toe walking
  • Intoeing
  • Flat feet
  • Knock knees
  • Sporting injuries
  • Overuse injuries
  • Bone stress injuries
  • Return-to-sport rehabilitation
Paediatric Physiotherapist Narrabeen
Paediatric Physiotherapy Narrabeen

Meet the Physi Kids Team

Ash Gellert & Georgia Bisset

  • For your first visit please call 9981 4099.
  • For follow up consultations you will be able to book online here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Paediatric Physio

Do I need a referral to see a physiotherapist?

No. You can book directly with one of our physiotherapists without a referral. A referral is only required if you’re claiming through certain schemes such as Medicare Chronic Disease Management (CDM), Workers Compensation, CTP, DVA, or some insurance providers.

What does a paediatric physiotherapist treat?

Paediatric physiotherapists assess and treat movement, development and musculoskeletal problems in babies, children and teenagers. This can include delayed motor milestones, torticollis, plagiocephaly, toe walking, poor balance or coordination, hypermobility, gait concerns, growth-related pain and sporting injuries.

Treatment is adapted to the child’s age, development and individual goals.

How do I know if my child needs to see a physiotherapist?

Consider an assessment if you’re concerned about how your child moves, walks, runs or develops, or if pain or injury is limiting their normal activities.

Frequent falls, delayed milestones, persistent toe walking, limping, difficulty keeping up with other children, recurring pain or difficulty returning to sport are all reasonable reasons to seek assessment.

Early assessment can help determine whether treatment is required or whether your child’s development is within an expected range.

Can a physiotherapist help if my baby is not meeting their developmental milestones?

Yes. A paediatric physiotherapist can assess milestones such as rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and walking, as well as strength, movement symmetry and motor development.

If your baby needs additional support, treatment may use positioning, play and age-appropriate activities to encourage movement and skill development.

Your physiotherapist can also provide practical activities for parents to continue at home.

Should I be concerned if my child walks on their toes?

Toe walking can occur in young children, particularly while they are learning to walk. However, persistent toe walking may warrant assessment, especially if it continues as your child gets older, occurs predominantly on one side, is associated with tightness or pain, or affects balance and function.

A physiotherapist can assess your child’s gait, joint mobility, muscle length, strength and movement patterns and advise whether treatment or further assessment is appropriate.

Can physiotherapy help with growing pains or growth-related injuries?

Physiotherapy can help with many causes of pain that occur during periods of rapid growth, particularly Osgood-Schlatter & Sever’s disease in active children and teenagers.

Assessment helps distinguish common growth-related conditions from other causes of pain. Treatment may include activity modification, strengthening, flexibility exercises and gradual progression back to sport.

Can paediatric physiotherapy help with flat feet, in-toeing or knock knees?

Yes, although these findings do not always require treatment. Flat feet, in-toeing and variations in knee alignment can be part of normal development in children.

A physiotherapist can assess your child’s walking or running, strength, joint mobility and function to determine whether the presentation is age-appropriate or requires intervention.

Treatment is generally considered when there is pain, functional difficulty or another clinical concern.

Can a physiotherapist treat sports injuries in children and teenagers?

Yes. Young athletes can experience acute injuries as well as overuse and growth related problems.

Paediatric physiotherapy can assist with muscle and joint injuries, overuse injuries, bone stress injuries and return to sport rehabilitation. Because children’s bones and growth plates are still developing, assessment and rehabilitation should take their stage of growth into account rather than simply applying an adult rehabilitation program

Does my child need an X-ray, ultrasound or MRI before seeing a physiotherapist?

Usually not. Many childhood movement problems and musculoskeletal injuries can initially be assessed from the history and physical examination.

If the assessment suggests imaging or medical investigation is required, your physiotherapist can recommend the appropriate next step and liaise with your GP, paediatrician or other health professional. Imaging should be used when it is clinically indicated rather than routinely performed before physiotherapy.

What happens at my child's first physiotherapy appointment?

The physiotherapist will discuss your concerns and your child’s medical, developmental and activity history.

Depending on their age and presentation, assessment may include movement, walking or running, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and functional activities.

For younger children, assessment and treatment are often incorporated into play. The physiotherapist will explain their findings and, when appropriate, provide exercises or activities to continue at home.

How do I book an appointment?

For appointments with the Physi Kids Team – Ash Gellert & Georgia Bisset

Resources

Physi Kids