Pediatric Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Overview

The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation team focuses on maximizing functional abilities in children who have special needs. The physicians, who are trained in both pediatrics and in physical medicine and rehabilitation, coordinate medical and functional programs for children who have impairments in mobility, fine motor skills, cognition, speech and language skills to enable the child to interact with his/her environment in the most effective manner possible. 

Physicians work with children through a continuum of care. Rehabilitation is a team effort and includes the following specialists: physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers, educators, psychologists and case managers. These specialists plan a coordinated care program and design wheelchairs, orthotics, exercise and therapy programs.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s Pediatric Inpatient Unit includes 15 beds and four physicians, along with a full complement of other specialties and ancillary services. Services offered include the rehabilitation of children with:

• Brain and spinal cord injuries
• Multiple trauma
• Cerebral palsy
• Spina bifida
• Oncologic disorders
• Rheumatologic disorders
• Chronic pain syndrome
• Genetic disorders and other programs for infants and children

Spaulding Lexington Outpatient Center

The center offers a dedicated team of physical, occupational and speech therapists, each with pediatric training and experience. The Spaulding therapists collaborate closely with the Lurie Center for Autism and also accept referrals from pediatricians and pediatric specialists throughout the region.

Programs and services include individual and interdisciplinary therapy evaluation and treatment programs for neurological and neuromuscular disorders, including:

• Autism spectrum/pervasive developmental disorders
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders
• Cerebral palsy
• Mitochondrial disorders
• Developmental disabilities
• Learning disabilities
• Orthopaedic injuries
• Orthotic and equipment evaluations
• Assistive device/assistive technology assessments and training