Physiotherapy for Children

If your family doctor, pediatrician, or nurse practitioner has referred your preschool child for physiotherapy, treatment may be offered in a clinical setting, at home, in a child care centre or at school. Preschool physiotherapy is offered to children from infancy until the end of kindergarten.

How will treatment help my child?

A physiotherapist will work with your family and other caregivers to incorporate exercise and activity into your child’s daily routine in order to:

• develop gross motor skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and walking;
• develop strength;
• stretch tight muscles;
• gain endurance, promote balance, coordination and fitness; and
• foster independence with mobility and increase participation in daily activities and routines at home, school, daycare and the community.

A physiotherapist can also help trial and prescribe equipment to meet your child’s needs.

With a referral from your family doctor, pediatrician or nurse practitioner, a physiotherapist can also assist your child with transition to an early child care environment and kindergarten.

What if my child is school-aged (6-18 years)?

Following discharge from the preschool service, if your child has complex neuro-developmental needs, a consultation visit to see your child in school can be requested by a pediatrician or school-based health provider to address specific school-based equipment concerns.

Should my child do the exercises at home?                  

Your child’s physiotherapist may recommend an at-home program. You and your child’s full commitment to home programming will increase treatment success. 

How do I get an appointment?

Once your referral is received, you will be contacted to set up an appointment when one becomes available.

Please note: For a hospital appointment, you must register 20 minutes early at Admitting. Late arrival may result in your session being shortened, or cancelled and rescheduled.

Your child is expected to attend all scheduled and agreed upon appointments. If your child is unable to attend, call (902) 894-2067 as soon as possible or within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment to allow staff time to schedule another child into that appointment. Voice mail messages are accepted during and after hours.               

If two consecutive appointments are missed, you will be sent a letter asking that you contact the department within two weeks to indicate if you want your child to continue receiving physiotherapy. If no contact is received, then your child will be discharged from the service.

What if my child is receiving private physiotherapy?

If you are receiving private physiotherapy for the same purpose from another source, please advise your physiotherapist.

Who can I contact for more information?

Physical Medicine Department
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
60  Riverside Drive
PO Box 6600
Charlottetown, PE   C1A 8T5

Telephone:  (902) 894-2067