Rheumatological diseases including Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints and bones, as well as affecting other areas of the body; for example, organs and connective tissues such as muscles, tendons and ligaments.  The goal of physiotherapy treatment for these conditions is often to limit pain and inflammation and help retain joint function; whilst maximising …

Our therapists can help support rehabilitation and recovery following illness or surgery, by providing advice and exercises/activities to help with improving: Mobility Activities of daily living Muscle strength and joint range of movement Functional independence Return to sport and other leisure activities Minimise pain

You may have noticed that your baby’s head is tilted to one side or that he/she is having trouble moving their head to turn towards you. This could be a sign of muscular torticollis. Babies with congenital or muscular torticollis experience reduced neck and head movement to one direction. Left untreated, it can cause feeding difficulties and possible alteration of …

Children who have a genetic condition including, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina bifida and Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) may require physiotherapy input and advice regarding their motor skills, at various stages of their development. Babies and children with these sorts of conditions, as well as Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) and other congenital myopathies, may experience low tone (hypotonia), muscle weakness or atrophy …

The early years of a child’s life are very important for their health and development. Babies and toddlers develop at their own rate, but sometimes they may be slower to reach their milestones. A child considered to have developmental delay, may reach these milestones much later, and may have difficulties in one or more of the following key developmental areas. …

Whilst our clinicians are experts at using clinical observation to better understand your child, we also believe that formal assessment can be a key part of the therapeutic process. Formal Assessments allow us to break down many areas of development in very specific ways and provide objective data about where a child sits in comparison to age-related norms. This information …

Many children who lack confidence in their abilities are reluctant to participate in social or formal, physical games and sport. These children are often struggling with balance, ball skills, motor coordination, social skills or even attention. Many of them really do want to join in but cannot find the courage and may struggle with self esteem difficulties. At The Kids …

Understanding a child’s pain is important as it can be very debilitating. Children often struggle to learn which pains they can ignore, and which are more serious. Pain can result in children being unable to engage in normal age appropriate activities such as going to school or socialising with peers. Acute pain following an injury (such as an ankle sprain) can …

At The Kids Place we work closely with children and babies with neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy (including hemiplegia, diplegia, and dystonia) stroke and brain injury. A collaborative therapy approach is important to us, with parent / whanau and carer involvement an essential part of the therapy process. As therapists, we are trained in and use, the Bobath or …

Some children or babies may appear to be more floppy than their peers.  This is often referred to as hypotonia, low tone or reduced tone. This may mean they experience: delays in meeting motor milestones e.g., late to roll, sit, crawl, stand or walk. unexpected fatigue when ­­playing. difficulty maintaining postures against gravity i.e., sitting at a desk or at …