Pediatric Rehabilitation and Recovery of Children with Traumatic Injuries

Abstract

The focus for many years in trauma services and in childhood injury control and prevention programs has been concentrated on the reduction of mortality. Recently, a greater emphasis has been placed on the prevention and reduction of morbidity. As an integrated component of the pediatric trauma care system, the rehabilitation team, particularly the physical therapist, plays a vital role in the reduction of secondary physical morbidity due to childhood trauma. The purpose of this article is to discuss issues regarding physical recovery of injured children, the description of motor recovery, and to review physical therapy assessment models and intervention practices that are pro-ported to enhance physical and functional recovery.