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What is pediatric rehabilitation?

Pediatric rehabilitation is also commonly referred to as physical medicine or physiatry. Pediatric rehabilitation is the use of exercise, prosthetics and modalities such as heat, water and mild electrical current to maximize a child's level of ability to physically function, often used following illness or injury. The physicians who work in pediatric rehabilitation are often called physiatrists.

What are ADLs?

ADLs stands for activities of daily living. An ADL is a self-care task that a person does every day to prepare for his/her social roles (e.g., feeding, grooming, dressing, bathing, personal hygiene and toileting).

What is a FIM Scale?

A FIM (Functional Independence Measure) scale is used to rate the amount of assistance needed by a patient.

• Independent – Patient able to perform activity safely and without assistance
• Modified Independent – Patient requires assistive device, has safety considerations or takes more than reasonable amount of time.
• Supervised – Patient requires stand-by supervision for safety, loss of balance or requires set up.
• Minimal Assist – Patient performs 75 percent or more of the activity
• Moderate Assist – Patient performs 50-74 percent or more of the activity
• Maximum Assist – Patient performs 25-49 percent or more of the activity
• Dependent – Patient performs less than 25 percent or more of the activity

Online Resources

• Pediatric Therapy Resources
• Kids’ Health Link
• Children With Special Needs
• Special Parents Information Network