Introduction to Pediatric Rehabilitation

Introduction to Pediatric Rehabilitation Pediatric Rehabilitation is a specialty field responsible for the management of infants, children, and adolescents living with a disability or injury. The focus of pediatric rehabilitative medicine doctors, or pediatric physiatrists, is to help every child reach the highest level of physical, cognitive, and social functioning possible. Pediatric physiatrists manage children with a wide range of neurological conditions, traumatic injuries, and congenital physical disabilities including but not limited to cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophies, traumatic brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders, and congenital birth defects. Pediatric physiatrists incorporate a multimodal approach to treatment, often working in interdisciplinary teams to manage patients. Rehabilitation physicians work closely together with psychologists, neuropsychologists, pediatric nurses, speechlanguage pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, dieticians, social workers, therapeutic

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recreational specialists, and education liaison—each discipline having a unique approach to optimizing the child’s functional goals. This journal edition covers several of the diagnoses and disorders commonly managed by pediatric rehabilitation physicians with the goal to expose readers to the scope of pediatric rehabilitation and to provide insight into the functional perspective physiatrists use when evaluating and treating patients. Specific topics covered include dysautonomia, hypertonia, spina bifida, obstetric brachial plexus injury, toe walking, and pediatric pain management. The articles aim to educate on these conditions and provide guidance on recognition, management, and timelines for referrals to specialists.

Mackenzie Brown, DO Guest Editor

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