Physical Therapy for Children in New Jersey

Physical therapy focuses on movement: strength, balance, coordination, walking, and safely getting around at home, school and in the community. Families usually start by raising the concern with their child's doctor, asking for a referral or prescription if their coverage requires one, and then requesting an evaluation from a pediatric physical therapist.

• Gross-motor skills such as rolling, crawling, standing, walking, stairs, running and jumping
• Strength, endurance, balance and coordination
• Posture, positioning and safe movement patterns
• Use of equipment such as braces, walkers or wheelchairs, when a team recommends them
• Participation: playgrounds, gym class, moving through the school building

A physical therapist evaluates how your child moves and then sets goals with you. Goals are individual. Two children with the same diagnosis can have very different plans.

• Outpatient clinics and hospital-based pediatric rehabilitation departments
• Early intervention for infants and toddlers, through New Jersey's early intervention system
• School-based services, when a school team determines a student needs them to access their education
• In-home services, offered by some agencies depending on the child's needs and their coverage

1. 1Write down what you are seeing

   Note specific examples with dates: tires quickly on stairs, falls often, avoids the playground, walks on toes. Specifics help clinicians more than labels.

2. 2Talk with your child's doctor

   Ask whether a pediatric physical therapy evaluation makes sense and whether a prescription or referral is needed for your coverage.

3. 3Check what your coverage requires

   Ask your plan whether an evaluation needs prior authorization, and whether visits are limited or reviewed periodically.

4. 4Call clinics and ask about waitlists

   Ask how long the wait is for an evaluation, whether the wait for treatment is different, and whether they will call if something opens sooner.

5. 5Bring your notes to the evaluation

   Ask the therapist to explain the results and goals in everyday language, and ask what you can practice at home.

• What did you see in the evaluation, in everyday language?
• What are the goals, and how will we know if they are working?
• How often would you recommend sessions, and for how long?
• What can we practice at home between visits?
• Do you coordinate with my child's school team or other therapists?
• What should I do if we are on a waitlist for months?

• A referral is not a guarantee of coverage or of an available appointment.
• Physical therapy addresses movement; sensory, handwriting and daily-living skills are usually occupational therapy.
• Nobody can promise a specific outcome or timeline for your child.
• Vicabell does not evaluate clinical quality and does not recommend one provider over another.

• Write down three specific examples of what you are noticing, then ask your child's doctor about a pediatric physical therapy evaluation.
• While you wait, ask to be added to more than one waitlist and note the date you called each place.

• How to Find Occupational Therapy in New Jersey
• What to Do When Every Provider Has a Waitlist
• Find providersSearch New Jersey agencies by service type and county.

• New Jersey Early Intervention System (Department of Health) Services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays.
• NJ Department of Education, Office of Special Education How school-based services are determined for eligible students.
• American Physical Therapy Association General professional information about physical therapy.