Creating a Pathway to Life-long Fitness Through Physical Therapy Motor Groups

One of the challenges that pediatric therapists can have is the successful transition of children from direct therapy services into community based programs, successful integration into their school or home fitness programs including recess. At Mary Bridge Children's Therapy Services – Children’s Therapy Unit, the PT staff has developed a PT motor group program that addresses this need. Starting over 8 years ago, they have been able to standardize how they organize these PT motor groups, how children are referred into group, what outcomes measures are used, and develop resources that are shared with families. These PT motor groups are provided for age ranges from preschool into adolescents. The group can address the following things: age and specific gross motor needs of the children, lifelong fitness needs or access for community programs. This presentation will highlight our successes as well as what we have learned over the years to make this a successful program for the children we serve.