A typical example of this in the pediatric population is when a child presents with elevated scapulae and tight anterior chest muscles due to primarily using a wheelchair for mobility with limited time in standing\/supine\/prone. This rounded shoulder posture often leads to pain in the upper trap region and neck due to impaired shoulder mechanics necessitating the overuse of the upper trapezius for shoulder elevation.<\/p>\n Manual techniques that could be employed here include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Other commonly found impairments and functional limitations where manual interventions can help include:<\/strong><\/p>\n There is emerging evidence that the use of manual therapy in pediatrics is desired amongst clinicians, but the opportunities to learn safe techniques and how to apply them are not widely available. Integrating manual therapy into pediatric practice will help patients reach goals faster and provide an avenue for caregiver education and useful techniques they can use to help their children at home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/SLS-BP-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Pediatric physical therapists are skilled in treating a wide variety of patient diagnoses, ages, and functional levels. As PTs, we are experts on handling and facilitating gross motor development, but there are not a lot of opportunities to learn and apply manual therapy techniques if you aren\u2019t working in an orthopedic setting. As well, once children move through the developmental spectrum and reach an adult body height\/weight, it is harder to apply pediatric knowledge and parent education. The use of manual therapy techniques is a needed and useful tool in every pediatric therapist\u2019s toolbox and can be incorporated into the way therapy is already done. Restrictions to movement, and subsequent pain, usually have more than one root cause. If a joint is stuck or rotated even slightly, the surrounding muscles either become overlengthed or shortened, resulting in myofascial restrictions leading to trigger points and pain. As opposed to stretching the surrounding muscles, fascial release and restoring normal joint mechanics will more quickly allow restoration of the normal muscle resting length and a decrease in pain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/SLS-BP-1a-e1679684212219.jpg\")
<\/a>If you are interested in learning more please join me for my upcoming interactive live webinar, Evidence Based Assessment and Treatment for Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disabilities<\/em><\/a>, with Summit taking place on\u00a0Saturday April 29, 2023<\/strong>. This course will provide an in-depth look and hands on practice into how manual therapy interventions including myofascial release, joint mobilizations, and motor re-education can tie into every day pediatric physical therapy.<\/p>\n