The Oklahoma Pediatric Therapy Center physical therapy team works together to help children develop and improve their gross motor skills, allowing them to reach their full functional potential and highest level of independence. The goal is improved sensory/motor patterns which will help improve and maintain range of motion, strength, and balance.
Here Are Some Ways Our Physical Therapy Team Can Help Your Child:
- Address Musculoskeletal imparements such as strength, muscle tone, balance, muscle control, flexibility, joint motion, endurance, and posture
- Orthopedic conditions such as torticollis, hip dysplasia, and scoliosis
- Neuromuscular conditions such as Cerebral Palsy
- Gross motor developmental assessments
- Coordination and balance training
- Mobility–transfers, floor mobility, and ambulation
- Motor planning
PT Intensives:
PT Intensives is a special 4-week program with 3 visits per week and 2 hour sessions. Sessions are comprised of a warm-up, strengthening exercises, and functional tasks. The warm-up is intended to prepare the body for several hours of work and includes massage, myofascial release, and stretching. We utilize the Universal Exercise Unit (UEU), which includes a pulley system and spider cage. The pulley system uses weights and pulleys for isolated strengthening of weak muscles to eliminate learned compensations. The spider cage portion of the UEU is a body weight support system that decreases the amount of body weight a child must move against gravity when performing functional activities. With reduced weight against gravity, the child can perform more controlled and independent movements, which decreases pathological and neurological reactions that affect mobility.
Benefits of Intensive Therapy:
During a session of intensive therapy, children are exposed to numerous repetitions of exercise, developmental movements, and functional skills. Kids with neuromuscular deficits require this focused approach to master developmental skills such as sitting, crawling, or walking. Repetition gives the brain an opportunity to learn or re-learn using the theory of neuroplasticity to form new neural pathways. With consecutive days in therapy, children can build on gains made daily and achieve the next level of independent functioning. Intensive therapy has also proven beneficial when a child has reached a plateau in traditional therapy or after another intervention (Botox, serial casting, surgery). After an intensive session, families are encouraged to take a 2-3 month break from therapy with a home exercise program. Intensive sessions should be repeated 2-4x per year as needed.4
Universal Exercise Unit:
We are the only therapy clinic in the metro with this incredible and versatile exercise equipment, lovingly referred to as the Spider Cage. Our therapists are ready to use the cage to help kids increase muscle strength, prevent muscle atrophy, increase range of motion, improve balance and so much more!
The patient is suspended in the cage with a belt and bungee cords to deliver appropriate amount of support to perform activities independently. The cage allows standing without a therapist’s assistance while allowing freedom of movement and facilitating balance. It also allows the patient to transition between positions and weight-shift for functional movements.
The cage can be integrated into a typical therapy session or used as an intensive program.
Casting and Orthotics:
TheraPlay (Now OPTC) was wonderful to my little girl! She was seen by an amazing PT (Brittany), who worked hard to provide the best treatment to her arm, all while making it fun! The office staff are very easy to work with and everything was taken care of promptly. Thanks for making her feel comfortable and for getting my baby better! We will be recommending OPTC to many others.Lindsay Selsor