Why isn’t my baby crawling?  When will he ever pull up to the furniture?  When she runs she trips over her own feet.    My child has Cerebral Palsy and can’t get out of his chair by himself.  Do I need a PT?  The doctor says I do…….but what will a PT do?

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy focuses on the body’s ability to move and control itself against gravity. A physical therapist works on activities with a client to enhance areas that might be limited due to pain, tightness, weakness, balance impairment, lack coordination or delayed developmental skills. These may be the direct result of a birth defect, chromosomal anomaly, trauma, injury, syndrome, or neurological episode. The goal is to discover the limiting factors that are impeding this individual from being able to progress and function appropriately in daily life skills and activities appropriate to their age and restore them to their prior level of functioning or progress them to new skills, if they are significantly behind for their chronological age.

This may also include consultation and teaming with other health care professionals such as orthopedic mds, neurological mds, pediatricians, physiatrists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, orthotists, prosthetists, and audiologists just to name a few. Physical therapists also can make recommendations for adaptive equipment (standers, seating systems…) and mobility aides (walkers, wheel chairs, strollers, car seats. . .) working with individuals and families as they work with equipment vendors.

Our Physical Therapy Team

KELLY LEID, PT

Kelly Leid has been practicing physical therapy since 1998 and has concentrated on the pediatric population since 2000.  Originally from Lawrence, KS, she completed her B.A. in Business from Michigan State University and moved to New York City for 3 years, appraising hotels.  After recognizing a void in supporting special populations, she returned to graduate school in Flagstaff, AZ, achieving her M.P.T. in Physical Therapy.  Initial P.T. experience began at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, CO which led to focus on treatment of children through their home care division.  Kelly enjoys working with children from all backgrounds and diagnoses, with emphasis on breaking down movement into functional anatomy components and blending these with a neurodevelopmentally based approach.  Areas of treatment include, but are not limited to, genetic disorders, neurologically-based dysfunction, prenatal exposure and limited early environmental experiences, and general and otherwise unexplained gross motor delays. She relies on collaboration with occupational therapists, speech therapists, orthotists and providers of adaptive equipment for effective and comprehensive treatment solutions.  Outside of work hours, Kelly spends time enjoying the outdoors, attending family sporting events, travelling, and running/walking/hiking.