Physical Therapy for Kids and Teens with CHDs
Ages 5 - 17 Years
While many kids with congenital heart defects (CHDs) have strong motor skills and few physical challenges, others require physical therapy (PT). PT can help kids to build strength, coordination, balance, and endurance; to learn new skills; to manage pain; and to recover from illness or injury. By understanding the role and purpose of PT, you can help ensure that your child is getting the intervention that they need.
In this section
Why physical therapy?
Kids and teens with heart defects sometimes learn physical skills later than their peers. As babies and toddlers, they can be slow to meet their motor milestones. As children and teens, they may still lag behind their peers in endurance, coordination, strength, or balance.
Some kids and teens with heart defects face frequent illnesses, medical treatments, and hospitalizations. Each medical event can affect their capacity to use their body. PT can help them to recover skills and strength after medical setbacks.
Physical Therapists (PTs) can work with children or teens on skills such as:
Moving and using their arms and legs
Building strength and endurance
Improving balance and coordination
Walking, running, jumping, and climbing
Throwing, catching, and kicking
Using playground equipment
Going up and down stairs
Recovering from an injury, illness, or surgery
Reducing pain
&w=3840&q=75)
Where to find physical therapy
PTs work in many settings, and have different areas of specialty. It is important to find a PT who has experience working with kids with medical complexity and developmental differences.
PTs work at:
Hospitals
Early Intervention (EI)
Outpatient clinics
Rehabilitation facilities
Many kids and teens with heart defects receive PT through their school district as part of their Special Education plan. Usually, school-based PT focuses on skills that affect a student's ability to access the curriculum and make appropriate progress.
In addition to school-based PT, some kids and teens with heart defects receive regular outpatient PT services from a clinic. Depending on the facility, outpatient PT may or may not accept medical insurance.
Whenever a child or teen with a heart defect undergoes a medical procedure, has a prolonged illness, or has a hospitalization, they should qualify for PT to aid in their recovery and rehabilitation.
If parents are concerned about how well their child move and use their body, they should ask their doctor for the best way to get PT.
&w=3840&q=75)
Making and maintaining progress
When kids with heart defects build and maintain physical skills, they are able to more fully participate at school, at home, and in their community. PT can help kids to move through the world more confidently and independently, and to maintain a level of activity that promotes both physical and emotional health.
This content was reviewed by a physical therapist at Boston Children's Hospital.
Families local to Boston can seek help from Boston Children's Hospital Physical Therapy department:
&w=3840&q=75)
You might also like:
Want to Learn More?
Look below for related content, search resources by topic, or explore one of our custom guides.
Don't see what you're looking for? Let us know what you want to learn! We will try to add content to respond to your needs. Email CNPschedulingandquestions@childrens.harvard.edu