Physiotherapy helps children improve their gross motor skills during development or after an accident or injury. Examples of gross motor skills include crawling, sitting, walking, running, jumping, climbing and ball skills.

Children may have received a diagnosis of torticollis, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, low muscle tone (hypotonia), autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, Developmental Coordination Disorder or gross motor delay. Alternatively, they may also simply be experiencing difficulty with motor skills that results in making it harder for them to keep up with their peers during recreational activities.

Physiotherapists optimize a child’s function based on their individual needs. They assess and treat muscle tightness, core stability, muscle strength, muscle endurance, postural control, balance and coordination.

Children with mild to severe difficulties with motor skills can benefit from therapy.

For babies and younger children, HeartSpace Physical Therapy sessions combine play with gentle handling by the therapist to achieve increased independence in motor skills. Older children and adolescents may be able to participate in more structured exercises to achieve their goals.

HeartSpace Physical Therapy for Children provides Physiotherapy services to children and families in the clinic in St Catharines as well as home-based services in Niagara. In a relaxed atomosphere, children and families can talk and play, building a positive, trusting relationship with their therapist. With the support of this relationship, the PT assists the child in working towards increased independence. We believe that therapy should be a positive experience for children and families, a space where they can feel supported as they work towards their goals.

The HeartSpace clinic is located at 15G Neilson Avenue, St Catharines L2M5V9.

No doctor’s referral is needed to access HeartSpace services. Please contact Shelley at 905.380.1627 orfor more information.