Infant Conditions

Infant Developmental and Orthopaedic Conditions
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Understanding Infant Developmental Conditions

What are infant orthopaedic conditions
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Infant orthopaedic conditions are a set of physical issues that can affect a baby’s bones, muscles, and joints. These conditions can impact how a baby moves, grows, and develops strength and coordination over time. Most of these issues are present at birth or become noticeable in the early months, often due to factors such as the baby’s position in the womb, genetic factors, or minor developmental differences as the baby grows.

Many orthopaedic conditions in infants are treatable and may resolve with early intervention, such as physiotherapy. Early detection is important, as addressing these issues while a baby’s bones and joints are still developing leads to more effective outcomes.

Our team of Physiotherapists is dedicated to supporting infants with a variety of orthopaedic and developmental needs. We provide gentle, hands-on treatment to address movement restrictions, muscle imbalances, and positional concerns that can affect an infant’s physical development. By offering personalised care, we help improve your baby’s range of motion, strength, and overall motor skills. Through early intervention and guided exercises, we aim to support optimal growth and function, helping your little one thrive while providing families with the knowledge and confidence to assist in their child’s development at home.

Types of Infant Orthopaedic Conditions

Common infant conditions we help
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The following are some of the most common orthopaedic conditions found in infants, along with typical treatment options to help babies achieve a healthy foundation for movement and physical activity as they grow.

A closer look at Infant Orthopaedic Conditions

How we assist infants

PLAGIOCEPHALY

  • Plagiocephaly happens when a baby’s head develops a flat spot, causing asymmetry or an uneven head shape. Flat spots can also occur on the side or back of a baby’s head.  This is quite common and usually doesn’t affect brain development, but early treatment can help improve head shape. At our clinic, we assess your baby’s head and neck movement, identify any contributing factors, and create a gentle, tailored plan to encourage natural head shape correction. We’ll also provide guidance on positioning, exercises, and play techniques to help support your baby’s development at home.

TORTICOLLIS

  • Torticollis is when a baby has a tight neck muscle, causing their head to tilt to one side and making it harder for them to turn their head fully. This can lead to difficulty with movement and may even affect feeding and play. Our therapist will assess your baby’s neck range of motion and overall development to understand the severity of the issue. Our treatment includes gentle stretching exercises, positioning advice, and activities to help strengthen the neck muscles and improve movement. We work closely with families to guide you on supporting your baby’s progress at home.

 

POSITIONAL TALIPES

  • Positional talipes is a common foot condition where a baby’s foot (or both feet) rests in a position of pointing down and inwards, or up and outwards. It’s usually flexible and can improve with the right care. Our team assess your baby’s foot movement and overall leg strength, then create a personalised treatment plan. This typically includes gentle stretches, exercises, and positioning techniques to help correct the foot’s alignment. Our goal is to ensure your baby develops strong, flexible feet, and we guide parents on how to support this progress at home.

HIP DYSPLASIA

  • Hip dysplasia occurs when a baby’s hip joint doesn’t develop properly and the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball portion of the upper thigh bone. Early treatment is important to ensure the hips grow correctly. At our clinic, we work together with your doctor in managing hip dysplasia and provide fitting of the Pavlik harness – a soft brace that gently holds the hips in the right position for development. We also offer regular adjustments to ensure the harness is fitting correctly as your baby grows. Our therapist will also guide you on how to continue to support your baby’s gross motor development with the harness and be there through every step of the process, ensuring comfort and successful treatment.

 

BRACHIAL PLEXUS PALSY

  • Brachial plexus palsy, also known as Erb’s palsy, happens when the nerves in a baby’s shoulder are injured during birth, affecting arm movement and strength. This can make it difficult for the baby to move their arm or hand. Our therapists assess the baby’s arm function and create a personalised treatment plan focused on gentle exercises, splinting and activities to improve movement, strength, and coordination. Our physiotherapists work closely with families to guide them in supporting their baby’s recovery and maximising their arm function through regular care and exercises at home.
 

Frequently asked questions

How often will my baby need therapy sessions?

The frequency of sessions depends on your baby’s unique needs and the specific condition. For some conditions, regular weekly sessions are ideal, while others may require check-ins every few weeks. During your first visit, our therapists will develop a personalized treatment plan that outlines the recommended frequency to ensure your baby makes steady progress.

Absolutely! Our therapists will provide you with a set of safe, easy exercises and positioning techniques that you can practice with your baby at home. These activities are designed to fit naturally into daily routines like feeding, changing, and playtime, so your baby receives consistent support in their development. We’ll work closely with you to answer questions and adjust home exercises as your baby progresses.

Early intervention with therapy can significantly reduce the likelihood of long-term issues for many orthopedic conditions. By addressing these issues early, therapy can help promote proper alignment, strengthen muscles, and support balanced development, which all contribute to your baby’s overall growth and physical milestones. Our goal is to set a strong foundation for your baby’s health and movement.

Our therapists regularly assess your baby’s movement, strength, and flexibility to gauge progress. We’ll monitor improvements in range of motion, alignment, and muscle tone during each session and adjust the treatment plan as needed. We also discuss milestones and developmental goals with parents to ensure that treatment is aligning with your baby’s needs and growth.

Join us at South West Kids Clinic!
Enquire today and let the adventure begin!
Our Therapies

Paediatric Occupational Therapy Sydney

Paediatric Occupational Therapy Sydney

At South West Kids Clinic, our Occupational Therapists dedicate themselves to enhancing your child’s independence in daily activities by using the most up to date treatment techniques and therapy tools. Whether mastering their motor skills, improving their participation in play, adapting tasks for easier completion, or recommending the right equipment and assistive tools, our team ensures your child can participate more fully in everyday life with greater autonomy.

Paediatric Speech Pathologist Sydney

Paediatric Speech Pathologist Sydney

Our Speech Pathologists are here to unlock your child’s potential in everyday communication, eating, and drinking. We aim to empower your child to communicate effectively and confidently, helping them express their thoughts and feelings easily. We strive to create safe and joyful mealtimes by supporting your child’s independence and ability to eat and drink safely and effectively.

Paediatric Physiotherapy Sydney

Paediatric Physiotherapy Sydney

Movement is at the heart of what it means to be active and engaged. Our Physiotherapists are committed to improving your child’s physical capabilities through innovative techniques and the latest therapeutic equipment. We focus on enhancing mobility, strength, and coordination, which are crucial for participating more actively in physical activities and improving overall quality of life.

Paediatric Dietitian Sydney

Paediatric Dietitian Sydney

Proper nutrition is foundational for children, especially those facing physical challenges. Our Dietitians provide customised nutritional plans that cater to the unique needs of children with disabilities. We ensure each child receives the nutritional support needed for optimal growth, development, and learning.

Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to start therapy?
The best time to start therapy is when you notice any developmental delays or concerns in your child. Early intervention is crucial as it can significantly improve the effectiveness of the treatment, helping your child achieve the best possible outcomes.

The frequency of therapy sessions typically depends on your child’s specific needs and goals during the initial assessment. Most children benefit from weekly sessions, but we may suggest more or fewer visits based on your child’s progress.

Put simply, the greater your involvement is in therapy, the quicker your child will gain results. For this reason, we only work with families actively involved in their child’s therapy. This includes collaborating to establish goals, participating in therapy sessions, completing practice between sessions and providing feedback to your therapist about progress between sessions.
Our team conducts comprehensive assessments to understand each child’s strengths and challenges. Based on these assessments, we develop individualised therapy plans that are continually adapted to reflect progress and changing needs.
You can contact our clinic directly or via email to discuss your child’s needs. Our reception team will ask quick questions about your child to determine the next steps required.
Therapy sessions are primarily completed in our clinic; however, we occasionally recommend contacting the school or child care to observe your child and consult with the teachers regarding valuable strategies to promote success in the classroom or playground. Occasionally, ongoing sessions are suggested; however, this is based on clinical need rather than convenience.
Areas We Service
LiverpoolNSW
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South West Kids Clinic offers personalised support and guidance to children with movement-based conditions in Liverpool. Our experienced and caring team is committed to positively impacting your child’s life.

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri:8:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat & Sun:Closed
BankstownNSW
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South West Kids Clinic delivers customised therapy and treatments to children with movement-based conditions. Our services are readily available and personalised to meet the needs of families in the Bankstown area, ensuring that every child receives the care they require.

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri:8:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat & Sun:Closed
CampbelltownNSW
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At South West Kids Clinic, we provide personalised therapy and treatments to children who have conditions affecting their movement. Our services are designed to cater to the specific needs of families in the Campbelltown area, guaranteeing that each child gets the attention and care they need.

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri:8:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat & Sun:Closed
FairfieldNSW
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At South West Kids Clinic, our approach is to offer customised therapy and treatments for children with movement disorders. We ensure our services are accessible and tailored specifically for families living in the Fairfield area, ensuring every child receives the necessary care.

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri:8:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat & Sun:Closed
PrestonsNSW
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At South West Kids Clinic, we deliver individualised therapy and treatments for children with movement challenges. Our services are adapted to fit the unique requirements of families in the Preston area, ensuring all children receive the dedicated care they need.

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri:8:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat & Sun:Closed
WollondillyNSW
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