Does My Child Need Physiotherapy? Signs Parents Shouldn't Ignore
Watching your little one grow is incredible. Those first smiles, first rolls, first steps—every milestone is a celebration. But what happens when something feels... off? Maybe your toddler's walking differently than other kids. Maybe your baby always tilts their head to one side. Maybe your gut is telling you something needs attention, but you're not sure if you're overreacting.
Here's what we want you to know: your instincts matter. And pediatric physiotherapy isn't about pushing kids beyond their capabilities or creating unnecessary worry—it's about giving them the support they need to thrive.
At Capria Care Collective in Coquitlam, we specialize in helping parents navigate these questions with compassion and expertise. Let's talk about the signs that might mean your child could benefit from physiotherapy.
What Is Pediatric Physiotherapy, Anyway?
Pediatric physiotherapy focuses on how children move, play, and develop physically from infancy through their teenage years. Unlike adult physio, it's all about understanding the unique stages kids go through and addressing issues that might affect their ability to do age-appropriate activities.
Here's the good news: early intervention makes a massive difference. Research shows that children who receive early physiotherapy support achieve better outcomes in motor function and developmental milestones. The developing brain is incredibly adaptable—that neural plasticity means intervention during early childhood is particularly effective.
Red Flags in Your Baby's First Year (0-12 Months)
Head Control and Positioning
By around three months, most babies can hold their heads steady when you're supporting them in a sitting position. Watch for:
Consistently tilting their head to one side
Difficulty lifting their head during tummy time
A flat spot developing on their skull
These could point to conditions like torticollis or plagiocephaly—fancy names for issues that respond really well to physiotherapy.
Rolling and Movement Patterns
Around four to six months, babies typically start rolling from front to back. If your baby isn't attempting to roll by seven months, strongly prefers one side, or feels stiff and resistant to movement, it's worth getting them checked out.
Muscle Tone Concerns
Does your baby feel unusually stiff or floppy? Having trouble bringing their hands together at their chest? Limited spontaneous wiggling and moving? These could be signs of muscle tone issues (hypertonia or hypotonia). Studies indicate that identifying and treating muscle tone abnormalities early leads to better long-term outcomes.
Toddler Years: What to Watch For (1-3 Years)
Walking Delays and Unusual Patterns
Most kids take independent steps between 15-18 months. Every child develops at their own pace, but consider an assessment if your toddler:
Isn't walking by 18 months
Walks exclusively on their toes
Has an unusual gait pattern
Toe walking affects about 5-12% of children and often requires intervention to prevent muscle tightening down the road.
Excessive Falls and Balance Issues
Look, all toddlers fall—it's part of learning to walk! But excessive falling, trouble recovering balance, or actively avoiding physical play might signal coordination issues or muscle weakness. If your child falls significantly more than their peers or seems scared of physical activities, let's chat about it.
Asymmetrical Movement
Is your toddler strongly favoring one side of their body? Using one hand exclusively before age two? Showing different strength between their left and right sides? These patterns can indicate neurological concerns or developmental coordination disorder, and early physiotherapy helps address these imbalances before they become ingrained.
School-Age Concerns (3-12 Years)
Coordination and Motor Planning Difficulties
Does your child struggle with riding a tricycle, catching a ball, or climbing playground equipment? About 5-6% of school-age kids have developmental coordination disorder (DCD), which responds beautifully to targeted physiotherapy intervention.
Postural Problems
We see a lot of school-age kids in Coquitlam developing poor postural habits. Watch for:
Persistent slouching
W-sitting (sitting with knees bent and feet splayed out to the sides)
Complaints of back pain
Yes, kids can get back pain! And addressing it early prevents chronic issues later.
Sports Injuries and Overuse
Active kids are wonderful, but sometimes they develop overuse injuries, experience recurrent strains, or take unusually long to bounce back from injuries. Pediatric physiotherapy doesn't just treat these conditions—we teach proper body mechanics and injury prevention strategies so your child can keep doing what they love safely.
The Pregnancy and Postpartum Connection
Here's something many parents don't realize: maternal health during pregnancy and postpartum can impact infant development. Babies born prematurely, those with low birth weight, or infants whose parents experienced complicated pregnancies face higher risks for developmental delays.
If you experienced pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis recti, or limited mobility during pregnancy, these can affect how you handle and position your baby. Even positioning habits during nursing or bottle-feeding can contribute to conditions like torticollis.
At Capria, we understand this connection intimately. We provide both postpartum physiotherapy for parents and infant assessment, recognizing that supporting you supports your baby.
When Diagnoses Are Already There
Certain conditions automatically benefit from physiotherapy involvement:
Cerebral Palsy: Early intensive intervention significantly improves motor outcomes in children with cerebral palsy. Physiotherapy maximizes function and prevents secondary complications.
Down Syndrome: Children with Down syndrome typically have low muscle tone and joint hypermobility, affecting motor development. Physiotherapy strengthens muscles, improves coordination, and supports milestone achievement.
Muscular Dystrophy and Genetic Conditions: Progressive conditions require ongoing physiotherapy to maintain function, prevent contractures, and optimize quality of life.
When Should You Book an Assessment in Coquitlam?
Here's our philosophy: don't wait for your pediatrician to suggest physiotherapy. Trust your parental instincts. Request an assessment if:
Your child isn't meeting developmental milestones within expected timeframes
Movement appears painful, limited, or asymmetrical
Your child avoids physical activities their peers enjoy
Teachers or caregivers express concerns about physical abilities
Your child experienced significant injury or surgery
You observe unusual postures or movement patterns
Your child complains of persistent pain with activity
Permission to reach out with "This might sound weird..." or "I don't think this is normal" or "It just feels off." We'll figure it out together.
What Happens During Pediatric Physiotherapy?
Our comprehensive assessment examines strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and developmental milestones. We observe your child during play and movement, assess muscle tone and joint mobility, and really listen to your concerns and observations.
Treatment is individualized and might include:
Therapeutic exercises and activities (that just look like play to your kid!)
Gentle manual therapy techniques
Equipment recommendations when needed
Parent education and home exercise programs you can actually do
Coordination with other healthcare providers and educators
At Capria Care Collective, we emphasize family-centered care because you're the expert on your child. Sessions are engaging and fun—we want kids to actually enjoy physiotherapy.
Why Early Intervention Matters
The developing brain and body respond remarkably well to intervention during early childhood. That neural plasticity—the brain's ability to form new connections—is highest in young children.
Research shows that early intervention services lead to better outcomes across multiple areas: motor skills, cognitive development, and social-emotional functioning. Waiting to address physical concerns can lead to compensatory movement patterns, reduced participation in activities, and secondary complications.
Breaking Down the Barriers
We know some parents hesitate to pursue physiotherapy because of concerns about cost, time commitment, or labeling their child. Here's the thing: early assessment and treatment typically require less intensive intervention than waiting until problems become severe.
Many extended health insurance plans cover pediatric physiotherapy. We direct bill to Pacific Blue Cross, Canada Life, Sunlife, Desjardins, Manulife, and Industrial Alliance to make things easier for you.
Supporting Development at Home
Between sessions, you play a crucial role:
Create movement opportunities: Encourage active play, provide age-appropriate challenges, and limit screen time. Coquitlam's parks and recreation facilities offer excellent venues for practicing skills in fun environments.
Follow through with home programs: Consistency drives progress. We'll help you integrate recommended exercises into daily routines so they feel like play, not therapy.
Celebrate progress: Recognize and praise effort and improvement, no matter how small. Building confidence keeps kids engaged with physical activities.
Stay connected: Maintain open communication with your physiotherapist, reporting changes or concerns promptly.
The Bottom Line
Every child develops at their own pace, but certain signs warrant professional evaluation. If you notice anything concerning in your child's physical development, trust your instincts.
We're here to help. Book an initial assessment at Capria Care Collective in Coquitlam, or give us a call at (604) 764-9839. Our pediatric physiotherapy services provide specialized support to help your child move, play, and participate fully in life's activities.
Your child deserves every opportunity to thrive—and we're here to make that possible.
Ready to learn more? Contact Capria Care Collective to book your child's initial assessment. We're located at 101 1060 Austin Ave, Coquitlam, BC, with convenient parking and a welcoming space where you and your child will feel comfortable from the moment you walk through the door.
References
Campbell, S. K., Palisano, R. J., & Orlin, M. N. (2012). Physical Therapy for Children. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 24(1), 1-8. https://journals.lww.com/pedpt
Novak, I., Morgan, C., Adde, L., et al. (2017). Early, Accurate Diagnosis and Early Intervention in Cerebral Palsy. JAMA Pediatrics, 171(9), 897-907. https://www.jpeds.com
Blank, R., Barnett, A. L., Cairney, J., et al. (2019). International clinical practice recommendations on developmental coordination disorder. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 61(3), 242-285. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14698749
Hielkema, T., Hamer, E. G., Reinders-Messelink, H. A., et al. (2011). Effects of a new intervention program in infants at very high risk for cerebral palsy. Early Human Development, 87(12), 751-759. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/early-human-development