Physiotherapy is a clinical health science and profession that aims to rehabilitate a person's ability to move and function. 

The Physiotherapy team at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead provide specialist paediatric care to infants, children and adolescents with a variety of health conditions. We have an expert understanding of child development and how this relates to neurological, cardio-respiratory and musculoskeletal health. 

Our service focusses on assessing each child individually and developing evidence-based treatment and education programmes with a child and family-centred focus to help children maximise their participation in everyday activities. We utilise a variety of management techniques including exercise prescription, manual therapies, aquatic physiotherapy, casting/splinting, use of specialised equipment and many other methods. 

Physiotherapists work autonomously and within other teams in the hospital setting to ensure holistic care for all patients and families. Physiotherapy may be provided individually or in groups, and we see both inpatients of the hospital and outpatients who reside within our specific catchment area. 

We also work within numerous specialty clinics across the hospital - some of the conditions we are involved with include:

• Musculoskeletal injuries and conditions (e.g.: sports injuries, knee pain, rheumatology)
• Developmental and newborn concerns (e.g.: delayed gross motor skills, plagiocephaly, torticollis, talipes)
• Respiratory conditions (e.g.: cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis)
• Neurology/neurosurgery, including brain and spinal cord injuries
• Rehabilitation for many complex conditions (e.g.: spina bifida, neuromuscular conditions, brachial plexus palsy)
• Burns and plastics injuries
• Chronic pain conditions
• Mental health