Physical Therapy
What is School Physical Therapy?
physical therapy
Definition of physical therapy:
Therapy for the preservation, enhancement, or restoration of movement and physical function impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability that utilizes therapeutic exercise, physical modalities (such as massage and electrotherapy), assistive devices, and patient education and training
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physical%20therapy)
The primary purpose of Physical Therapy in schools is to support participation and access to a child's curriculum. Deficits addressed by school Physical Therapy must relate to a child's performance in the school setting, including the classroom, playground, lunchroom, bathroom, Special Areas, etc. Physical Therapy focuses on the child's ability to safely and efficiently navigate through the school environment, participate in classroom activities and physically keep up with peers.
Physical Therapists in the schools look at multiple areas when evaluating a child's educationally-related needs. These include, but are not limited to:
- gross motor skills
- coordination/body control
- functional mobility
- postural control
- balance
- strength
- endurance
- environmental adaptations
- assistive/mobility devices
In addition, the PT may assess specific tasks performed throughout the school day, such as the child's ability to sit upright in a chair or on the floor during instruction, move throughout the school environment, negotiate obstacles in the school environment, safely navigate the playground, etc.
Educational vs. Medical Physical Therapy
Physical Therapists provide therapy services in a variety of settings. These settings include schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics and home-based services. When receiving services through an outpatient clinic, home care agency or hospital, Physical Therapy services follow a medical model, where services are initiated by physician referral and are based primarily on a medical diagnosis identified in the referral. Payment for services is the responsibility of the patient, although health insurance often covers some of the costs. The goal of therapy is typically to address the medical deficit by maximizing the patient's full potential.
When Physical Therapy services are provided in a school, service provision follows an educational model, which is significantly different from the medical model as described above. In an educational model, Physical Therapy services are provided by the school only when the identified deficit relates to the child's educational needs. Therefore, a child may have an identified deficit that relates to their gross motor skill development, but if it does not interfere with the child's ability to function in the school environment or benefit from their education, then school Physical Therapy services would not be indicated. Also, unlike a medical model, school Physical Therapy services are not provided to maximize a child's potential, but rather to adapt their environment and provide intervention as necessary to allow them to function and access the curriculum and physical school environment.