Pediatric Physiotherapy

In this programme you will be introduced to several topics related to motor development, motor control and motor learning. These topics are integrated in a conceptual framework, which is part of a task-oriented approach. The pediatric physiotherapy framework will enable you to examine and treat children with motor problems.

Models

You will also discuss the models used in pediatric physiotherapy. The interrelationship between this framework and the models will be highlighted. The variety of video observations you will watch will help you to understand and describe how normal and abnormal children move and why they move the way they do. This is known as the diagnostic evaluation process. You will analyse performed tasks with the aim of helping you to understand and apply knowledge of motor control, motor learning and motor development.

Motor skills

In this course you will be challenged to elicit motor skills at the actual level of the child, and to increase the difficulty of a task step by step. You should be able to manipulate the task as well as environmental constraints in such a way that motor performance changes according to the predefined intentions.

The underlying process from ‘intention to contraction’ will be closely studied within a ‘heterarchical model’ based on cognitive neuromotor science. The implications of the model for assessment and therapy will be discussed.

Testing

On a more pedagogical level, the emphasis on motor goals versus pedagogical goals will be discussed in the light of pedagogical and testing theories. After finishing this course, you will be able to test children aged 3 – 16 using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Mabc-II). You will be able to analyse and interpret the test results. You will also be introduced to the Albert Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).

In the second part of the programme, children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and Cerebral Palsy will be discussed. Participants will perform outdoor exercises and several field tasks.

This programme is part of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the School of Social Work, Education and Health in Breda.