Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy After a Birth Injury

What Kinds of Physical Therapy Will a Child with a Birth Injury Need?

If your child has brain damage from a birth injury, they may face a range of physical and cognitive difficulties with a significant impact on their development. They may also need various forms of physical therapy to address these deficits, which should have been prevented.

Below, we explore the vital role of different types of physical therapy in helping children with birth injuries regain function and achieve their full potential.

Physical Therapy (PT)

Physical therapy plays an essential role in helping children with birth injuries by improving muscle strength, coordination, and motor skills. Through prescribed exercises and techniques, physical therapists work with children to enhance their ability to move with greater ease. Stretching, balance exercises, and strength-building techniques are commonly used. PT is a critical part of enhancing overall function for children affected by birth injuries.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Occupational therapy focuses on developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, focusing on the ability to perform daily tasks that are essential for a child’s independence. Occupational therapists create personalized programs that help children learn tasks like dressing themselves, eating independently, and engaging in school-related activities like writing. Occupational therapy is key to helping children become self-sufficient and confident.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is critical for children who have difficulty with speech, language, or swallowing due to birth injuries. Some common techniques used in speech therapy are oral motor exercises, language-development activities, and play-based therapies that encourage speech. Early and consistent speech therapy can be a game-changer for children with communication and swallowing challenges.

Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy offers unique benefits for children with limited mobility. Movement in water reduces stress on joints and muscles, allowing children to move more freely and perform exercises that might be challenging outside of the water. This type of therapy can help improve strength, flexibility, and endurance, while also providing a peaceful and soothing environment that can reduce muscle tension and pain. Aquatic therapy is especially a great option for children who experience discomfort or difficulty with traditional physical therapy methods.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Sensory integration therapy is designed to help children who have sensory processing issues, which are common in those who have suffered brain injuries at birth. This therapy involves activities that stimulate the senses, such as touch, movement, and sound. Through sensory integration therapy, children can improve their responses to sensory stimuli as well as their movement and fine motor skills.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Critical Timeframes

Starting physical therapy as early as possible is crucial for maximizing a child’s potential for recovery and development. Early intervention takes advantage of the critical periods in a child’s growth when their brain and body are most responsive to therapy. Delaying these essential therapies can result in missed development opportunities and result in worse long-term outcomes.

Neuroplasticity in Children

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change, structurally and functionally. In children, neuroplasticity is most possible during the early years, making early intervention particularly effective for addressing damage from birth injury. Physical therapy, along with other therapeutic approaches, can help affect the brain’s plasticity to promote recovery of lost functions and support the development of new skills.

Therapy and Your Legal Rights

For families dealing with birth injuries, substantial financial resources are often necessary to get their child ongoing physical therapy and other necessary treatments. In addition, birth injuries can impact family members’ ability to work and earn a living. But dealing with insurance companies to secure coverage for physical therapy and related services can be challenging.

That’s why it’s critical to contact an experienced birth injury law firm in order to obtain enough compensation to cover your expenses. This financial support can ensure that your child receives the care and services they need throughout their life.

Beam Legal Team: Helping Families Seek Justice Since 1983

If your child has experienced a birth injury, we at Beam Legal Team are ready and willing to help you with holding the negligent medical professionals involved responsible. After carefully reviewing the details of your case, we will help you file a claim in order to obtain compensation for all costs to which your child is entitled. Since 1983, our firm has secured over one billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Our well-versed knowledge regarding this specific area of the law could make all the difference in your case. We have access to expert medical analysts who can help us determine exactly what caused your child’s birth injury.

Lawyers in Chicago Representing Clients from Coast to Coast

Located in Chicago, our team of attorneys represents clients across the nation. The sooner your child receives physical therapy, the greater the chances that the therapy will prove to be effective. We will do everything in our power to help you obtain the fair compensation your child is entitled.