Pediatric Physical Therapy
Pediatric physical therapists (PTs) work with children and their families to assist each child in reaching their maximum potential to function independently and to promote active participation in home, school, and community environments. Physical therapists have expertise in movement, motor development, and body function (e.g., strength and endurance). They apply clinical reasoning during examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention for children, youth, and young adults. PTs also promote health and wellness as they implement a wide variety of supports in collaboration with families, communities, and other medical, educational, developmental, and rehabilitation specialists.
The role of pediatric physical therapy is to help children who have difficulty with functional movement, poor balance, and challenges moving through their environment successfully. Some children on the autism spectrum have low muscle tone, some have poor balance, others may not be well-coordinated, and still others may have a combination of all the above. These are all areas that a physical therapist can address.
Learn More & Get Started
Our experts are eager to cater to your requirements and are available to address your inquiries through phone, email, or face-to-face meetings, should that be your preference. Rest assured, you will always be in the capable hands of one of our professionals.
When physical therapy helps
- Rolling, sitting, crawling or walking later than expected
- Walking on toes, an unusual gait, or frequent falls and clumsiness
- Muscles that feel very stiff or very floppy
- A head tilt or strong preference for turning one way (torticollis)
- Avoiding stairs, running or playground climbing
- Pain, weakness or reduced movement after an injury or surgery
- Difficulty keeping up with other children physically
What our physical therapists work on
- Gross motor milestones — rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking
- Strength and endurance for play and school
- Balance and coordination
- Gait training and, when needed, orthotics or equipment recommendations
- Range of motion and flexibility
- Posture and core stability
- Safe participation in sport, PE and play with peers
Physical therapy, autism and motor development
Motor differences are common in autism and are often overlooked because communication takes the spotlight. A child who is unsteady on his feet or avoids climbing misses out on the playground, and the playground is where a lot of social learning happens. Improving motor confidence often opens the door to participation, which is why we look at physical development alongside behavior and communication.
Frequently asked questions
My pediatrician said to wait and see. Should I?
Sometimes waiting is reasonable. But if you are worried, an evaluation costs you one appointment and either reassures you or starts therapy earlier — and earlier is generally better for motor development.
Will therapy hurt my child?
No. Sessions are built around play and are paced to what your child can tolerate. Some exercises are hard work, but they should not be painful.
How often are sessions?
Typically once or twice a week to start, adjusted as your child progresses. The therapist will explain the recommendation after the evaluation.
Do I need a referral?
That depends on your insurance. Call (813) 655-8159 and we will check it with you.
Pediatric physical therapy in Brandon, Lakeland and Winter Haven
We see children at our clinics in Brandon, Lakeland and Winter Haven, serving Hillsborough and Polk counties.
Related therapies
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Pediatric Occupational Therapy
- All therapies we offer
Get started
Call (813) 655-8159 or request a consultation. También disponible en español.
Coverage, hours and starting without a waitlist
We accept Simply Healthcare, TriCare, Humana, Sunshine Health, Sunshine Health CMS, Florida KidCare, Step Up For Students, Ambetter and Molina Healthcare for physical therapy, plus private pay. Children’s Medical Services members move from Sunshine Health to Molina Healthcare on October 1, 2026; we accept both, so treatment continues without a gap. The full list is on our insurance we accept page, and we run the benefits check for you before you commit to anything.
All three clinics — Brandon, Lakeland and Winter Haven — are open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and there is no waitlist. Call (813) 655-8159 during business hours and a real person will answer; we are a family working for families, and this October we complete five years of doing it.
Do I have to wait months to start physical therapy?
No. Hopeful Therapies does not keep a waitlist. Once benefits are verified and the plan authorizes the assessment, we schedule you — typically within days.
Can my child receive more than one therapy at the same time?
Yes, and it is usually the better choice. ABA, speech-language, occupational and physical therapy are delivered by one coordinated team sharing a single treatment plan, which is the fastest path to reaching therapeutic goals.
A credentialed, coordinated team
Your child’s therapists work alongside our Board Certified Behavior Analysts, so ABA, speech, occupational and physical therapy goals reinforce each other instead of competing. Combining all of the therapies a child needs under one roof is the main reason our families reach their therapeutic goals faster. See our leadership and clinical team.
