Treatment

Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy at Children’s Wisconsin helps kids build strength, improve movement, and gain confidence through expert, family-centered care.

When a child has trouble moving or keeping up with daily activities, it can bring up a lot of questions for families. At Children’s Wisconsin, our pediatric physical therapists (PTs) help children build strength, improve movement, and gain confidence.

We care for children from infants to teens with a wide range of abilities. Our goal is to help every child move safely and to help families confidently support daily life at home, school, and in the community.

About Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy (PT) helps children from birth through adolescence develop movement skills like sitting, crawling, walking, running and jumping. PT focuses on how muscles, joints, balance, and the brain work together as a child grows.

Therapy sessions may focus on:

Strength, balance, and coordination
Gross motor skills like sitting, standing, and walking
Use of equipment such as walkers, braces, or wheelchairs
Endurance for school, play, and sports
Safe movement and injury prevention

Our physical therapists help children recover after injury, surgery, or illness and support those with long‑term or developmental conditions. The goal is confidence, independence, and safe movement.

Our PTs collaborate closely with care teams from:

What to Know About Pediatric Physical Therapy?

If your child has trouble with movement, balance, or keeping up with peers, pediatric physical therapy may help. PT supports safe movement and builds skills for everyday activities.

A pediatric physical therapist helps children improve strength, balance, coordination, and movement. Therapy can help with walking, running, climbing, posture, and play at home, school, and in the community.

Our pediatric physical therapists work with children who have:

Developmental delays
Orthopedic or neurological conditions
Balance or coordination concerns
Injuries or movement limitations

Common conditions include:

Cerebral palsy
Down syndrome
Autism spectrum disorders
Brain or spinal cord injuries
Torticollis or plagiocephaly
Muscle weakness or low muscle tone

We also help children recover after surgery or medical treatment.

Physical therapy focuses on large movements like sitting, standing, walking, running and balance.

Occupational therapy focuses on daily tasks, like dressing, feeding, toileting, handwriting and play. Skills related to this often include fine motor skills, visual motor skills and sensory processing.

Many children benefit from both services. Our physical therapy and occupational therapy teams work closely together.

What to Expect with Pediatric Physical Therapy?

At your child’s first visit, the therapist learns how your child moves, plays, and interacts. We listen to your concerns and create a care plan that fits your child’s needs.

Our therapy spaces are designed for kids, with equipment that supports learning through play. Families are an important part of care, and we share activities you can practice at home.

What To Expect at Your First Visit

Get Ready for the Visit

Bring these items to the visit if your child has them:

Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
Braces (orthotics)

Current Concerns

Tell the therapist about your current concerns.

Background Information

Answer questions. Some questions will be for your child, and some will be for you.

Assessment

Assessment of your child is done by the therapist. You will also complete some forms with questions.

Create a Care Plan

Discuss your child’s therapy plan. This includes the goals, how often therapy happens, and length of sessions.

Next Steps and Questions

Discuss insurance, scheduling, what to expect at therapy, and home programs. Here is where you will ask questions and share concerns.

What To Expect at Your Follow up Visits

Follow Up Appointment

Check In

Share updates about your child

Therapy

Therapist provides treatment to your child based on the goals. Sometimes it looks like play.

Try This at Home

Learn the things to do with your child at home.

Questions

Ask any questions. Make sure you’re ready and able to do your child’s therapy plan at home.

Next Appointment

Ask your therapist about your child’s next visit is. Review if you need to schedule more visits.

Why Choose Children’s Wisconsin?

Children’s Wisconsin offers personalized, play‑based pediatric physical therapy focused on each child’s goals. We partner with families and care teams to help children build confidence, improve mobility, and reach their highest level of independence.