Rehabilitation Medicine
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Rehabilitation Medicine helps children and their families adapt to changes after injury or illness. We bring together experts from Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech and Language, and Rehabilitation Psychology to make sure your child's unique needs are met.
Our team includes board-certified specialists in pediatric rehabilitation medicine, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, teachers, social workers and psychologists. Together, we perform a complete evaluation of your child's needs and abilities, and develop a treatment plan that takes into account your child's needs and your family's circumstances.
Seattle Children's is a national leader in pediatric rehabilitation. Our inpatient unit is certified as a Pediatric Family-Centered Program by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and designated as a level 1 Pediatric Trauma Rehabilitation Center by the Washington State Department of Health.
Meet the
Rehabilitation Medicine care team
Conditions we treat
We serve the complex needs of children with disorders that affect their nerves and muscles (neuromuscular disorders). Some of the conditions we see in the Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic include:
- Traumatic brain injury
When a child has a severe head injury, the brain can be damaged. Our team evaluates children with traumatic brain injuries to see how well their physical body is working and to check language and thinking skills. We make recommendations to help children recover as much function as possible and plan for their return to school and their community.
- Spinal cord injury
Spinal cord injuries often cause problems with the nerve cells that carry signals between the brain and the rest of the body. These injuries vary in how serious and lasting they are. Some injuries cause permanent loss of muscle use in part of the body (paralysis), while others allow for nearly complete recovery. Our team assesses children with spinal cord injuries and makes recommendations on both medical and functional issues. For example, we consult on strengthening, flexibility and splinting, bowel and bladder control, and managing stiff and rigid muscles (spasticity). We consult on equipment needs and positioning so your child gains the most comfort and function.
- Guillian-Barre syndrome
In Guillain-Barre syndrome, the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system. This causes muscle weakness, tingling and sometimes loss of muscle use in part of the body (paralysis). While most people recover from Guillain-Barre syndrome, others continue to have some weakness. Our team evaluates children who have Guillain-Barre syndrome. We make recommendations to help with neuromuscular changes, including therapy to improve strength, flexibility, movement (both fine and gross motor skills) and pain management.
- Cancer with neuromuscular
problems
We work closely with Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Program to care for children who have cancers that affect their neuromuscular function, such as brain and spinal cancer. Our work focuses on helping your child improve movement, strength, flexibility and communication, as well as manage stiff and rigid muscles (spasticity). We also consult on equipment needs and help with your child's return to school and community.
- Stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, or a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds into the spaces around brain cells. In both cases, brain cells don't get the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive. Strokes can cause loss of muscle use in parts of the body (paralysis), as well as problems with memory, learning and thinking.
Services we offer
Our Rehabilitation Medicine team also offers specialty clinics for children and teens with special needs. These clinics usually meet four times a year or once a month. Our specialty clinics include:
- Limb Differences Clinic
Limb differences include limb loss, injury to the nerves that carry signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand (brachial plexus injuries) and other limb disorders that affect your child's daily activities. In our Limb Differences Clinic, we provide your child with an evaluation by rehabilitation medicine doctors, orthopedic surgeons, specialists who design and fit prostheses, occupational and physical therapists, and education specialists. Together, we develop recommendations to give your child as much function as possible in the affected limb and to assist with return to school and community.
- Spasticity Management Clinic
Spasticity is a condition that occurs when some muscles are constantly stiff and rigid. Children with spasticity may have a lot of reflex movements that they cannot control. This makes movement such as walking and speech difficult and awkward. Our doctors and therapists work with experts at Children's Neurodevelopmental Clinic to make recommendations for treatment, such as casting, splinting and Botox injections. These treatments are done to improve your child's ability to perform activities of daily life.
- Muscular Dystrophy Clinic
Muscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of diseases that gradually cause muscles to weaken. MD is inherited, or passed from parent to child through genes. At Children's, your child's heath-care team may include experts in Rehabilitation Medicine, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Nursing, Orthotics and Prosthetics and at the Heart Center. Together, we evaluate your child and make recommendations. Depending on your child's unique needs, we can help with equipment, positioning, strengthening or activity adaptation, bowel and bladder management, and respiratory and heart issues.
- Arthrogryposis Clinic
Arthrogryposis causes stiff joints and muscle weakness, most often in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees and feet. Our Arthrogryposis Clinic includes experts in Rehabilitation Medicine, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Education, Genetics, Orthopedics and Social Work. We evaluate your child's abilities and develop recommendations to help your child become as active as possible.