October is National Physical Therapy Month, and here at RHSC we're raising awareness for the benefits of pediatric physical therapy as well as celebrating the work done by our team of providers.
Watching RHSC's physical therapists with the children in our Early Intervention Development Groups, it's obvious that while they are working to build skills, play and fun are at the core of their learning. We had the opportunity to discuss with them why they like working within their field with children specifically, and why physical therapy at this age is so important.
"Pediatric physical therapy is a special subsection of physical therapy as it focuses on early childhood development and addressing physical delays at a young age," says Shelby Hutton, PT, DPT who has been with RHSC for just over a year. "Through physical therapy, I hope to instill lifelong movement patterns and strategies for these children to take with them throughout their lives. Children are motivated by play and making sessions fun and engaging is what helps most of this learning take place. It is a hard, but very rewarding job and I’m so thankful to be a part of making a difference in their lives."
Brook Mallaber, PT, DPT has been working with the children RHSC for a year and creativity is a priority. The creativity Mallaber, as well as our other PTs, bring to their work is evident throughout the agency. Obstacle courses, scooters and bikes in the hallways are often employed to help keep the kids engaged and keeps things fun.
Ashley Brawn, PT, DPT, has been with RHSC since September. "Early intervention physical therapy is so important because all aspects of development are connected," says Brawn. "Being able to move, explore, and have access to the environment is how we learn so many foundational life skills! I love working with this population because you can be so creative and fun with incorporating play into exercises and I love seeing their progress as they grow and hit new milestones and celebrating with our families."
Sara Calus, PT, DPT, OT/PT Supervisor, has been at RHSC for over a decade. "One of the questions /comments I get often is that parents and caregivers don’t know that there even is PT for babies and small children and do not know what we do. I tell them about the fundamental nature of motor skills and development," Calus says. "We talk about the importance of gross motor and mobility skills to be the foundation for later skills such as communication- breath control and processing the coordination of big muscles before small muscles, self-care such as balance for dressing, endurance for sitting at a table and being able to feed oneself and manage the motor planning for toilet training and fine motor such as core stability and bilateral coordination for writing and drawing skills." Calus goes on to explain, "I talk about the example of when you drive somewhere new and have to move slowly, think a lot about your next move and what comes next in your plan and often have to limit distractions. Then when you have gone there a few times, you move faster, think less, know ahead of time your plan and direction. This is motor planning for kids. A PT’s job is to help them process, sequence and recruit muscles in different order and combinations to complete a wide variety of skills."
Rochester Hearing & Speech Center provides Educational & Clinical Services & Evaluations to children from birth to age five in the areas of hearing, speech-language pathology, physical therapy & occupational therapy. Special education is available from birth to age three. RHSC currently offers services both one-on-one and in group settings.
As the only approved nonprofit provider of Early Intervention Services with a footprint in Monroe County, RHSC currently offers services both one-on-one and in group settings. For more information on the services we provide, please visit our website at rhsc.org.
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