After a cerebral palsy diagnosis, there are many treatment options to consider. As a parent, you want to weigh the potential benefits of any suggested treatment before your child begins receiving treatment.
Why Physical Therapy Is Important
Physical therapy is often suggested for people with cerebral palsy because it may provide the following benefits:
- Improved mobility and motor skills
- Improved coordination, balance, strength, endurance, and flexibility
- Pain relief
- Reduced muscle stiffness
- Prevention of further movement problems
Overall, the benefits of physical therapy can improve your child’s health.
Before your child starts physical therapy, it is essential to:
- Find a physical therapist you trust
- Develop treatment goals that are coordinated with other rehabilitation goals set by occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists
- Talk to your child’s pediatrician about all treatment options
Physical therapy may include exercises, mobility aids, and use of specialized equipment depending on your child’s needs.
Don’t Worry About the Cost of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy, like other types of cerebral palsy treatments, can cost a lot of money. Your health insurance may cover some of the costs, but it likely won’t cover all physical therapy expenses. Kentucky’s First Steps early intervention program may provide some physical therapy services until age three, and special education may provide some school-based physical therapy to help your child access the general curriculum.
But your child may need more than this, and you might want to seek alternative forms of treatment that would not be covered by insurance or First Steps.
If your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice during labor or delivery, our birth injury legal team will fight to make sure that your child’s past and future physical therapy costs are included in your legal recovery. We will also fight to make sure all of your child’s other rehabilitation therapy costs, medical expenses, physical pain, emotional suffering, and other expenses and losses are compensated.
Let us start to help you today. Start a free chat, or call us any time – 24/7/365 – to schedule a free consultation with us and to learn more about your child’s legal options.