What is Good Posture? by Teri Roberts, DPT Kids Place Owner and Physical Therapist Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while performing all activities during rest and movement. Your optimal posture is when the least amount of strain or stress is placed on ligaments and muscles during stationary…
Balance Bike or Tricycle? By Teri Roberts, DPT, PCS Kids Place Owner and Pediatric Physical Therapist I often am asked whether purchasing a balance bike or a tricycle is a better investment for a two and a half year old. Truth is, there really is not a correct answer, so there is not a wrong…
Sandals and Foot Pain: How to Prevent a Summer Shoe Flop Nothing says summer quite like breaking out the flip flops and shades, however; regular flip flop wearing can put you at risk for developing foot pain. So how can you keep your feet healthy and happy this spring and summer? First, we must define…
Improving Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Everyone needs sleep and rest to support their health and participate fully in their daily lives. When a child is experiencing sleep difficulties, the sleep quality of the entire family can also be affected. Poor sleep can lead to challenging daytime behaviors and negatively impact daytime function.…
Why Is Balance So Important? We’ve all heard the expression “If you don’t use it, you lose it”. That expression especially rings true for our sense of balance. We’ll talk about what balance is, the role that balance has on our daily lives, and consequences of falling. What is balance? Balance is made up of…
Shoe Recommendations for New Walkers and Toddlers Those first steps your child takes is an exciting time – watching them develop from those first, uneasy steps to eventually running! As your child begins walking, parents will need to begin purchasing shoes to help your little ones. Below are recommendations based on where your little one…
6 Important Reasons We Play Games Together at Kids Place Pediatric Therapy Parents often ask us why we will place two children together during a therapy session to play a game. This is a great question that has an even better answer! When two children are playing together, we are able to build several social…
2 Reasons You May Be Experiencing Unexplained Pain By Cassidy Cooney, PT, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist I often hear the question – “what caused this?” – when chatting with my patients about their unexplained pain. Unless there was a specific moment or injury that preceded the symptoms, the reality is we are often unable…
Why Is Play Important for Child Development? We often hear parents ask, “What can I do with my child to help him or her grow and develop?” Now, if someone came to you and said, “Just play with your child” would you believe them? What Is Play? According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (2008),…
Addressing Knee Pain by Brooke Smith, PT, DPT AzOPT Clinical Co-Director The knee is a very mobile structure that relies on surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments as well as the joints above and below to provide stability. When those joints are not working properly – that is to say they are either not as flexible…
