Any parent wants their child to grow up healthy and able to play and socialize. Children with Down syndrome require special care to be able to do just that. That's why many families of children with special needs rely on physical therapy services. As someone working in physical travel therapy, you'll have an opportunity to make a positive, long-term difference in so many kids' lives by working with patients who have Down syndrome. Learn more about this facet of your career:
"6,000 babies are born each day with Down syndrome."
About Down syndrome
To fully appreciate your potential role as a physical travel therapy professional in the life of a child with Down syndrome, it's important to have a thorough understanding of the condition. Typically, people are born with 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell. Those with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome on what would be the 21st pair.
According to the National Down Syndrome Society, Down syndrome is the most common of any genetic condition, and about 400,000 people have it in the U.S. Additionally, about 6,000 babies are born each day with Down syndrome. The condition is marked by certain physical traits, which include short stature and low muscle tone, which can cause issues with motor development and mobility.
The role of physical travel therapy professionals
Those with Down syndrome are likely to have hypotonia, or reduced muscle tone, and hypermobility of the joints, which can cause general decreased strength. This makes activities like lifting the head, rolling over, crawling, standing and walking more difficult. According to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, the goal of those in physical therapy jobs for these patients is to prevent abnormal compensatory movement patterns, which result when the body can't move properly because of those physical challenges. Abnormal compensatory movement patterns can also lead to pain and mobility difficulties later in life, so it is important for those with Down syndrome to use physical therapy as early as possible.
A travel physical therapy professional must go through the same evaluation and planning process as he or she would for any patient. As the NDSS explained, the physical therapist will first observe the child, gauging what level of development he or she already is at to determine what skills the little one is ready for next. This involves speaking with the parents too, as they can provide more insight into their children's strengths and areas where improvement is needed.
However, there are some general long-term goals that physical therapy professionals might have for patients with Down syndrome. Instilling proper posture, foot alignment and walking patterns ensures the child will be able to play and exercise effectively.
Physical therapy in action
Professionals in this field will employ a variety of techniques to help with proper motor development. Interventions that improve strength are especially crucial for a patient's treatment plan. Of course, you won't have a baby pumping iron at the gym. Rather, you'll have to incorporate fun, kid-friendly techniques into this strategy. A study published in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation found that when children with Down syndrome participated in progressive resistance exercises for their legs for at least six weeks, researchers saw improvement in their lower limb strength.
The same sort of success was seen with balance exercises, according to the research. As the American Physical Therapy Association explained, physical therapy professionals may use tools such as round pillows or exercise balls for babies who need help keeping their heads up or with sitting. As the adolescents get older, their physical therapist might incorporate more skill-involved techniques like dribbling a ball or jumping.
While balance improvement and strength training are two critical goals, the overall treatment plan will vary between patients. It's not just the original assessments but also an ongoing evaluation of the child's progress that will determine the direction of travel physical therapy.
"Engaging moms and dads into treatments is a good move."
Engaging parents
Physical therapists can expect parents to not only be present at these appointments but also wanting to be involved in their child's progress. Engaging moms and dads into treatments is a good move considering at-home exercises are critical to reaching long-term goals. As the DSAGC explained, parents who watch their little one in action at physical therapy appointments also get a chance to see how the child learns, which is important for helping their kids down the road in school, with personal growth and in the development of social skills.
Advice from the National Association for the Education of Young Children aimed at educators may benefit those in physical therapy jobs working with families of kids with special needs. Specifically, the organization said it's important for professionals working with parents to understand that their family life is a little chaotic. In addition to going to physical therapy, they are probably also taking their kid to a variety of other interventions, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and development music classes. If they miss an appointment or come in a little late, it was probably unavoidable.
Also, parents may want advice on how they can incorporate physical therapy exercises into other facets of the child's life. For instance, what can the babysitter do to help the patient? What sort of toys or equipment can the family buy that will help the child reach developmental goals? As a physical therapist, you can familiarize yourself with what products are on the market and have practical tips for parents to apply at home.
The goal of the physical therapist and family should be the same – to help the child with Down syndrome reach his or her full potential. These treatment plans require a unique sense of innovation, and by collaborating with parents and catering strategies to the individual's needs, physical therapists can make a positive difference.