We are so excited to reveal the brand-new Pediatric Physical Therapy Suite in our Spooner Scottsdale clinic! This newly designated space, which is dedicated to pediatric physical therapy treatment, provides the clinic with a larger and more private treatment room to continue to grow the pediatric specialty. We met with Spooner therapist Stephanie Gilboy, PT, DPT and learned all about the latest additions.
Stephanie says, “Timing is everything with kids. Spooner’s turnaround time for evaluation allows the patients to get into a pediatric clinic as soon as possible. This new suite provides us an opportunity to serve the Scottsdale and surrounding communities that much more.”
We took a walk around the suite to check everything out. Stephanie highlighted all the fun tools and devices and explained how the kiddos will benefit from them throughout their physical therapy sessions. Here’s what we learned!
Platform Swing
The platform swing provides the therapists a sensory calming environment to work with individuals who may be overstimulated by busy environments. The swing also allows kids to work on their core control and balance on a slow movement object to better participate in playground activities with their peers.
Slide
The slide is utilized for exercises such as stair-climbing, reciprocal stepping patterns, and a stand to sit transfer at the top. Since they have to be able to stand up from the squatted position once they slide down, the slide is a great tool for the kids to practice their transitions from floor to stand. Being able to simulate all of this in the room allows the kids to keep up with their peers on the playground.
Basketball Hoop
Little do they know that their fun game of basketball is also honing in on their developmental skills. The kids work on skills like stoop and recover, hand eye coordination, tip toes to dunk the ball, side stepping, and hopping. They might be shooting three pointers in no time!
Soft Foam Stair
The soft foam stair is used to practice sitting skills with infants. They have to be able to sit next to it and hold themselves up. Patients between 10 to 12 months old utilize the soft foam stair to master their crawling. It’s also great for little ones learning how to furniture cruise or practice pulling to stand and walking to the other side.
Multiple Sized Physio Balls
These are used for proprioceptive simulation for infants or toddlers with developmental delays who respond well to sensory input. The physio balls help with improving posture, nerve control, or other targets we are reaching for. They are great for kids struggling with trunk support since they have to practice sitting on an uneven surface and learn how to control themselves in an upright position. They will also develop core strength while working through these activities.
Mini Trampoline
The mini trampoline is used for jumping and kneeling skills. While kneeling next to the trampoline, the kids bounce balls off the trampoline either toward or away from them. Floor to stand tasks from a kneeling position can also be simulated with use of the trampoline. This can be used for proprioceptive simulation as well.
Beam Interactive Projector
This amazing interactive projector game system allows therapists to provide a game like environment while patients work on different motor skills. It literally turns the space into a virtual playground. It can be used with patients as young as 6 months old. Stephanie said she even brought a 65-year-old patient in the other day to play some soccer (and has even found that the therapists on the Scottsdale team enjoy interacting with the system)!
It’s great for infants to accomplish crawling tasks. There’s a game where they have to chase the ball while they crawl across the floor. There are so many fun features and themes for them to experience, such as playing in autumn leaves, popping bubbles, and chasing little flying bees. They think the funniest thing ever is playing around in the projected ball pit. For older kiddos, they can play a fun game where they chase a frog from Lilypad to Lilypad. There are more skill-based games such as the fast feet game, where there is a pattern down on the floor and they have to follow the numbers or colors and do some target stepping.
One of the primary diagnoses from Phoenix Children’s Hospital has been patients who have had a Nuss procedure. The kids learn how to bear weight on their arms again by playing fun games like air hockey. This interactive projector is definitely a game changer in treatment plans!
Piece Together Balance Beam
There are 6 pieces of colored balance beam that the kids use to draw patterns with. Not only are they balancing heel to toe walking, but they also have to focus on side stepping or bridging gaps. This adds one more level of complexity that therapists can integrate by having patients practice walking in different shapes.
Toys
Toys used as distractions are key in pediatric physical therapy. The toys are utilized as the perfect distraction while performing the task at hand and help to keep the patient focused and engaged.
World Map Mural
The floor to ceiling map displayed on the wall is used primarily for reaching tasks. Sometimes kids need help with reaching low and then reaching high. Stephanie says she’ll tell them to reach all the way up to the alligator, side step to the shark, and then bend all the way down to the penguin. The next task might be to find something red and they then have to search and visually track and walk to touch the red object on the wall. As the kids get older, the tasks progress to things such as finding what continent the zebra lives on or where the elephant is roaming. Plus, it is an eye catching and fun wall decoration to have in the room!
What is Stephanie’s favorite part about the suite? She says it is the endless possibilities the room provides for patients of any diagnosis and any age. When it comes to a favorite device, Stephanie has her eyes on the Beam interactive projector because it has such a wide range of applications for multiple age groups.
Spooner Physical Therapy pediatric physical therapists can be found all across the valley. Stephanie says, “Our pediatric team is growing and our therapists are so driven to provide the best patient care. We are continuously learning and adapting. I’m always impressed with how everyone utilizes the tools they have and how creative and resourceful the group is with their treatment plans.”
Check out the video below to take a tour of the room:
At the end of the day, it’s all about the kids. The pediatric physical therapists work together to help kids achieve their goals and are there for their patients and their caregivers every step of the way. Make sure to check out the new suite and all that Spooner’s pediatric team has to offer! We hope you love it just as much as we do.
Learn more about Pediatric Physical Therapy at Spooner Physical Therapy. Ready to schedule an appointment? Click Here to schedule an appointment or complimentary movement screen with a Spooner physical therapist at one of our locations throughout the valley.