What is Physical Therapy?

 

Physical therapy focuses on gross motor skills requiring the use of large muscle groups; sitting, standing, transitioning in and out of all positions, walking, and running.  Physical Therapists are medically trained with a strong knowledge base of orthopedics (muscles and bones) and neurology and how they work together for motor function, sensorimotor and motor planning. 

 

Physical therapy in the school system focuses on assisting teacher’s and staff in developing treatment plans to improve a child’s gross motor function, motor planning and mobility.  The Physical Therapist is also responsible to educate the teacher and support staff in safe positioning in standard school equipment as well as specialized adapted positioning equipment for children with special needs.   The goal for each child in the school system is to safely access the school environment and participate with peers, with or without adapted equipment.  The Federal law defines the role of the school physical therapist as being able to assist students with disabilities to improve their functional independence as it relates to school activities. 

 

Because school based physical therapy relates to how each child accesses and functions within their school environment, some children may require additional medically based therapy that can be sought through their medical insurance.  Many families feel that their child may benefit from outside therapy as well as school based therapy.  School therapists are always available to collaborate with medically based therapists as long as the child’s parent signs a “Mutual Consent to Release Information” with both therapists.

 

Physical therapy in the State of Indiana requires a Doctor’s Prescription/Permission to Evaluate and Treat.  Brownsburg Community School Corporation provides a PT Permission Form for the parent to sign permission to evaluate as well as for the doctor to sign permission to evaluate and treat.  This must be provided for the initial evaluation and then for each school year as long as your child continues to qualify for physical therapy services.