What is Pediatric Rehabilitation?
Pediatric rehabilitation is a form of treatment that aims to bring out and develop the existing capacity in children, rehabilitate identified disorders, and enable the child to live as independently as possible. This is achieved through the harmonious and complementary collaboration of various medical and non-medical disciplines.

In pediatric rehabilitation, child care is integrated with rehabilitation to help the child perform daily activities more easily. It also aims to further develop these abilities. Early initiation of treatment increases the chances of success. Goals should be realistic and age-appropriate, aiming for the sequential acquisition of functions such as holding the head upright, sitting, crawling, walking, and grasping objects. Later stages include education, social skills, adaptation, and personal care training.

Who Provides Pediatric Rehabilitation?
In developed countries, pediatric rehabilitation is recognized as a separate discipline, and education programs are carried out in accordance with these principles. In our country, however, the lack of sufficient specialization in this field leads to a serious shortage of trained personnel.

Pediatric rehabilitation should be conducted under the leadership of a physician with special training in this area. The team should also include qualified and experienced healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, nurses, orthotic/prosthetic technicians, occupational therapists, social workers, child development specialists, child psychologists, and special education experts.

How is Pediatric Rehabilitation Different from Adult Rehabilitation?
Pediatric rehabilitation is not merely a disease-based specialty. The fact that growth and development continue in children—and that this development includes both physical and psychological aspects—means a child is more than just a miniature adult. This is one of the key features that distinguishes this specialty from general physical therapy and rehabilitation.

There are many neurological, orthopedic, and rheumatologic conditions in childhood that require rehabilitation. While the procedures used in the follow-up and treatment of patients may be similar in principle, the physical conditions, approaches, and applications differ significantly between children and adults.

Routine well-child checkups should not be neglected. These exams should monitor growth parameters, nutrition, and especially vaccination. Severely affected children may be overlooked due to the severity of their condition and may miss out on standard childhood vaccinations.

In the treatment of a disabled child, encouraging and achieving communication is a top priority. Instead of focusing solely on the child’s physical impairment, efforts should be made to ensure interaction with their environment. It is essential to use simple and modern tools to help the child gain independent mobility.

Setting appropriate goals for self-care activities is crucial. Just as vocational rehabilitation is vital for a disabled adult, special education is equally important for a disabled child.

Being the parent of a healthy child is already a challenging experience, and being the parent of a disabled child is even more demanding. Therefore, these parents often need support and guidance in caring for their children.

Who Should Receive Pediatric Rehabilitation?
Many conditions fall within the scope of pediatric rehabilitation, including:

• Mental motor retardations (MMR) due to congenital causes,
• Metabolic diseases with musculoskeletal involvement,
• Muscle and nerve disorders resulting from spinal cord injuries,
• All neurological and muscular syndromes seen in childhood,
• Conditions such as spina bifida and meningomyelocele,
• Brachial plexus injuries caused during birth,
• Torticollis,
• Cerebral palsy and spasticity,
• Head trauma, microcephaly, hydrocephaly, and many other conditions with a wide range of effects.

What are the Expectations from Pediatric Rehabilitation?
Improvements in technology and care quality in neonatal intensive care units have increased the survival rates of premature babies and those born with risk factors. However, this has also led to a rise in central nervous system (CNS)-related neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy, mental motor retardation, and birth trauma.

Preventing or minimizing the problems that may arise in these infants is extremely important. Early intervention should begin even in the delivery room, and physical therapy and rehabilitation programs should be initiated as early as possible when needed.

A significant portion of childhood diseases that cause physical disabilities and loss of mobility can be eliminated or minimized through timely and appropriate interventions. In cases requiring treatment, the process should not be limited to physical therapy and rehabilitation alone but should also include various educational and social support programs.