NHS Islington...

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Children's Physiotherapy

Who is the service is for?

The Children and Young Person’s Physiotherapy Service is for all children and young people, aged 0-19, who live in Islington. It is also offered to those who live outside the borough but attend school in Islington.

What does the service do?

Children’s Physiotherapists specialise in working with children and young people. We will look at how your child moves, and then work to help them achieve their ‘optimum physical development’. The aim is not just to help them to move, but to help them move to the best of their ability, as children and young adults learn about themselves and their environment through movement .

Physiotherapy is holistic in nature, and we work as part of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams. An initial assessment of your child's general development and specific physical function and abilities is carried out, where we look at things such as whether or not your child can sit unsupported, or whether they can stand but not walk. After this the Physiotherapist will discuss their findings with you, and determine the immediate and long-term requirements.

They will also make plans for appropriate treatment, which will be regularly reviewed and updated in discussion with you. In addition, children may be assessed for special equipment / Orthoses as appropriate.

How are children and young people referred to the service?

Initially, children and young people need to be referred to us by a health or education professional. For example your child's:

• GP
• health visitor
• nursery
• school nurse
• therapist

If your child has been seen by us previously and need to be re-referred, then you can complete a referral form yourself. Please call the department and we will send you a form. If you were previously discharged for missing appointments, however, you will need to obtain a referral from one of the professionals listed above.

Top tips

Do the exercises recommended by your Physiotherapist.
We all know that exercising can be boring, but past experience has shown us that families who do the exercises given to them by their Physiotherapist improve much faster, and need Physiotherapy for much shorter periods of time. Even if your child has a long-term condition, performing the activities recommended can prevent a whole host of other problems.

If you know that realistically you/your child are unlikely to do the exercises, then it is often possible to achieve the same results by joining a club outside school. So, joining a Martial Arts club for example, will improve your child’s muscle strength, their balance and their co-ordination among other things. It will also give them a chance to meet new friends, who they can overcome problems with, like getting certain moves right, and will use up excess energy.

The best type of activity for you/your child will depend on the nature of the problem. Your Physiotherapist will be keen to discuss appropriate groups with you.

Encourage children to join an after-school activity
There is a lot going on in Islington and in the surrounding boroughs. Details of clubs and groups can be found on Islington Council's website at www.islington.gov.uk. Alternatively, we also have a booklet which you can request.

Joining a new group is beneficial for the reasons stated above; and will also give you/your child a new skill. It will also help with any weight issues and will help you get into shape. Did you realise that exercising releases hormones in the body called ‘endorphins’? These lift your mood and make you feel better. People who exercise regularly generally feel more positive about themselves and the world around them.

If walking to school is an option then leave the car at home
On the way your child can mimic the moves for hopscotch on the paving slabs which is good for their co-ordination skills. They can walk along cracks in the tarmac or low walls (where safe) which is good for balance. Walking quickly up slopes/hills is good for muscle strength and stamina.

Your child can also do activities that will tie in with their school work. For example, they could do a nature watch of their environment which can be tied in to their Science lessons. Younger children could count the number of flowers on a particular plant, etc.

Downloads

Service leaflet

Web links

Please note: we are not involved with these groups but advise parents about them.

Hemi Help - for children and young people with Hemiplegia
National Deaf Children’s Society
Sickle Cell Society
Action for ME
Steps - charity for people with a lower limb condition
The Arthrogryposis Group - support group for people with stiff joints
Scope - a disability organisation for people with cerebral palsy
Arthritis Care
HMSA - Hypermobility Syndrome Society
Downright Excellent - provides educational therapies and quality play experiences for children with Downs Syndrome
Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
NCH - the children's charity
Dyspraxia foundation
Contact-A-Family - a charity for families with disabled children
Centre 404 - Islington charity for children with learning difficulties and their families