Pediatric Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy for Children in East Tennessee

East Tennessee Children's Hospital provides the area's most comprehensive, family-centered rehabilitation services to children. Pediatric rehabilitation is very different from adult rehabilitation because a child is constantly growing intellectually, physically and emotionally. A child's progress in one area affects the other aspects of development and well-being. Children from birth to age 21 benefit from our services tailored to their growth and changes.

For more on East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s physical therapy services, call (865) 690-5006 to contact Dr. Nadine M. Trainer.

Benefits of Pediatric Physiatry

When a child has a condition that can benefit from physical medicine, the sooner they get started, the better. It is possible to make tremendous strides in a child’s condition, whether they suffer from a temporary or chronic issue, by starting physical therapy early on.

Conditions that can benefit from physical medicine include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Spina Bifida
• Brain injuries
• Congenital conditions
• Cancer
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Chronic pains

Even for conditions that cannot be cured, such as cerebral palsy, physical therapy can make a tremendous difference in the child’s life. By learning exercises and techniques to overcome their condition at a young age, patients can both prevent their situation from deteriorating and develop new skills that allow them greater independence and quality of life.

Treatments Customized for Each Patient

When providing children with physical medicine, we want to help them accomplish tasks that are important to them. By working with the child, we learn more about their hobbies, interests, and aspirations and develop a treatment plan that will make it easier for them to do all the things they want to do in life. Many of the exercises and treatments we develop are designed to appeal to the child’s interest and feel more like a game than a chore. This will make it easier for them to keep up the exercises on their own and make continuous improvements in their condition.