Physical Therapy
Evaluation of the Child
Amy Shuckra, MPT
Physical Therapist
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Salt Lake City, Utah
Objectives
• Identify model of assessment
• Physical therapy evaluation
• Goal setting
• Intervention plan
• Consideration of age
Approach to Assessment
Bottom-Up Approach
Intervention Plan
and Strategies
Determine Goal
Identify Strengths
and Weaknesses
Asse
ssm
en
t
Components of the Evaluation
• History
• Clinical
Observations
• Objective Measures
• Standardized
Assessments
• Assessment
• Plan
History • Obtain the history
• Parent/child/caregiver interview
• Review medical records
• Medical history
• Suspected diagnosis, medications,
surgeries
• Family history; the pregnancy, labor and
delivery of the child; and perinatal and
neonatal events
• Developmental history
• Social history
• Environmental characteristics, culture,
education
Clinical Observation
• At rest in various
positions
• Parent/caregiver
and child
• Interaction with the
environment
• Social responses
and communication
Objective Measures
• Range of Motion
• Strength (Motor Grading
Scale)
• Tone (Modified
Ashworth Scale)
• Motor Control
• Posture/Balance
• Sensory
• Functional Skills &
Standardized Tests
• Adaptive Equipment
Assessment
• List the child’s strengths
• List problems and hypothesize reason
• Goals
• Long-term vs. Short-term
• Measurable and functional
• Include a time frame
• Set by family, child and therapist
• Goals change with change in problem
• Re-evaluate if goal is not achieved
Treatment Plan
• Designed to meet
specific goals
• Changes with child’s
age
• Geared to function
the child needs as
grows and develops
• Integrate play for
motivation
Prognosis & Outcome
• What’s the child’s
prognosis?
• What’s the
outcomes you want
to achieve with
treatment?
• Reassess your
goals, treatments
and outcomes at
each session
References
• Campbell, SK. (1999). Decision Making in Pediatric
Neurologic Physical Therapy. NY, NY: Churchill
Livingston.
• Campbell, SK, Linden, DW, Palisano RJ. (2000).
Physical Therapy for Children (2nd Edition).
Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders.
• Long, TM and Cintas HL (1995). Handbook of
Pediatric Physical Therapy. Baltimore, MD: Williams
& Wilkins.
• Tecklin JS. (1999). Pediatric Physical Therapy.
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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