by Tracie Dahl, OTR/L Kids Place Central Pediatric Occupational Therapist Teeth begin to appear as early as six months old and should be brushed twice a day as soon as they appear, according to the American Dental Association. But brushing a child’s teeth, especially a young child, is challenging (and stressful), especially when there is…
The Role of Social Media in Pain Management by Brooke Smith, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT AZOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager and Doctor of Physical Therapy Often in the clinic, I hear patients tell me “I really thought my pain would just go away,” or “I looked online, and it said to do…fill in the blank.” Admittedly, I…
The Best Way to Hold and Carry Your Baby by Bobbi Michels, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Holding your baby is one of the most joyous and relaxing experiences. It is during these special moments you will bond and enjoy memories of cute smiles, initial communication, and quiet gazing upon your precious baby…
Cervical Radiculopathy: What Is It and What Can You Do? by Jordan Ribota, PT, DPT AZOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Cervical radiculopathy can be summed up as the nerves exiting the neck are in some way being “pinched,” causing the nerves to function improperly. Most often, symptoms include numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness into…
The Developmental Benefits of Chores by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist For many of us, chores are a normal part of childhood. What you may not realize is that common household chores can help children develop a variety of executive functioning skills that are beneficial later in life. Executive functioning…
Kids Corner – All about Caffeine by JP R. Freshman, Archway Trivium Caffeine is one of the world’s most popular stimulants. It is found in more than 60 different plants world-wide. Caffeine is in many items such as coffee, coffee beans, tea, soft drink products, energy drinks, chocolate, nuts such as kola and guarana, and…
Spinal Decompression through Position and Breathing Did you know that you can use deep diaphragmatic breathing to decompress your spine to help relieve pain? We all live with some form of spinal compression caused by gravity, ground reaction forces, ligaments, and muscular contractions. When a person stands upright, the lumbar spine can compress up to…
Temper Tantrums and Behavior Management by Amanda Mazerall M.S. OTR/L Temper tantrums are ‘behaviors’ that I see on a daily basis. Although Kids Place is an extremely fun and exciting place, it is common for children to get upset while present for therapy. There are a variety of reasons for these upset behaviors: Seeking a…
In our 11th edition of the AZOPT & Kids Place Pumpkin Challenge, we tested the creativity of the amazing provider offices who participated. And wow – what awesome results! Smaller pumpkins are definitely more challenging! Everyone who participated is a winner – because the kiddos who voted truly enjoyed seeing your creations! Thank you to all!…
What is pediatric physical therapy? Pediatric physical therapist work with a variety of children ranging from babies with torticollis or delay, orthopedic sports injuries, and children with delays due to diagnoses such as cerebral palsy and autism. Pediatric PTs help to improve gross motor skills, walking pattern, strength, balance, coordination, and motor planning through a…
