When does your child need physiotherapy? A parent's guide

Parents often aren't sure whether something they've noticed — a wobbly walk, a child who avoids running with friends, a toe-walking habit — is "just a phase" or worth getting looked at. Here are the signs we most often hear about from families before a first visit, and what paediatric physiotherapy actually involves.

Signs worth a conversation

• Not hitting typical movement milestones (sitting, crawling, walking) within the usual range.
• Frequent falling or clumsiness well beyond what's typical for their age.
• Walking on tiptoes regularly past the toddler years.
• Avoiding running, jumping, or climbing that other children the same age do easily.
• Poor balance, or noticeably favouring one side of the body.
• A diagnosed condition — such as a developmental delay, cerebral palsy, or a genetic condition — where movement and strength need active support.
• Recovering from an injury, cast, or surgery.

None of these on their own necessarily mean something is wrong — children develop at different rates. But an assessment costs nothing to rule things out, and catching a movement pattern early is always easier to work with than waiting.

What a session actually looks like

Nothing about paediatric physiotherapy resembles a typical adult session. It's built entirely around play: obstacle courses that happen to train balance, games that happen to build core strength, activities designed so the child doesn't feel like they're "doing exercises" at all. Parents are involved throughout, both to keep the child comfortable and to learn what to continue at home.

What we assess in a first visit

• Gross motor skills — how the child moves, balances, and coordinates.
• Muscle strength and tone.
• Posture and any asymmetries.
• How the child's movement compares with typical developmental milestones for their age.

From there we build a plan that's specific to what we find — there's no one-size-fits-all programme, and progress is reviewed regularly as the child grows.