COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Pediatric Physical Therapy and how will it benefit my child?
Pediatric Physical Therapy provides specialized care to improve the movement and daily function of children with gross motor concerns. It works to maximize a child's potential to move in a safe, efficient, and age-appropriate manner. Treatments focus on incorporating exercises in a functional, developmental, and play-based manner. The goal is to make movement fun!
What is Small Strides' therapy approach?
Small Strides focuses on creating a family-based, functional, and fun approach to therapy. The goal is to provide the education, guidance, and hands-on assistance to allow families to have greater independence with promoting continual gross motor progress in their children A child's job is to explore their environment and play, therefore these are thee main areas of focus. Therapy should be fun! Treatment is focused on periods when the greatest progress can be made, such as post-surgery, during times of growth, and during moments of rapid developmental gains. Then, children are provided breaks where they apply what was taught during therapy into their day-to-day routine. Decisions, such as goals, frequency of care, and treatment approaches, are all determined with the assistance of the family to ensure that your individualized needs are being met.
What type of conditions does Small Strides treat?
Small Strides treats children 0-5 years of age with gross motor concerns pertaining to:​
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Torticollis/Tight Neck/Side Preference
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Body Tension
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Oral Ties and Oral Motor Dysfunction
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Plagiocephaly/Flat Head
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Developmental Delay or Asymmetrical Development
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Toe Walking
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Cerebral Palsy
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Down Syndrome
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Seizure Disorders
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Genetic Syndromes
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Neurological and Neuromuscular Disorders
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Post-Surgical Conditions
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Gait Abnormalities
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Impaired Balance/Coordination
We focus on encouraging an optimal gross motor foundation to allow your child to freely interact with their community and environment.
Where will treatment occur?
The Evaluation and, if deemed appropriate, all future treatment sessions will occur in the home of the child, unless the family would prefer services to occur in a community environment such as the playground or preschool. Some tools and toys will be brought to treatments and evaluations, although a majority of the services will incorporate objects from the child's natural environment to improve the ease with which care can be carried over by the family. Performing therapy where the child lives, reduces the long list of places you need to be, but also individualize your child's care to their specific toys and living space.
What insurance does Small Strides take?
Small Strides PT is an in-network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield.
If your family does not have Blue Cross Blue Shield and you are interested in receiving therapy, do not fret! Treatment can be provided out of network and a superbill will be emailed after therapy for the family to seek out reimbursement on their own.
What is the process for getting reimbursed through your insurance?
If you are interested in filing for reimbursement through your insurance, there are a few additional steps that must be taken. This decision must occur prior to the evaluation and should start with a call to your insurance company to determine what they require, such as prior authorization. After the evaluation, and future treatment sessions if recommended, a receipt, a superbill, will be provided with the necessary information for your insurance, as well as what was billed for the evaluation or treatment. It will then be your responsibility to work with your insurance company to determine if they will cover the cost in full, partially, or not at all.
Dr. Erin Ward is a pediatric physical therapist who specializes in developmental delays, plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome), torticollis (head turn preference), and tongue ties. Small Strides Pediatric Physical Therapy offers services in-home or community-based environments for children ages 0-5 years in the areas surrounding Newburyport, MA (Newburyport, Amesbury, Newbury, West Newbury, Georgetown, Ipswich, Rowley, Salisbury, Boxford, Merrimac, Groveland, Haverhill).