Respiratory Physiotherapy.
Respiratory physiotherapy for children is a specialised branch of physiotherapy that focuses on preventing, treating, and managing respiratory (breathing) conditions in infants, children, and adolescents. This Respiratory Physiotherapy is crucial for children with chronic respiratory conditions, those recovering from acute illnesses, or children who need support for breathing difficulties due to other medical conditions.
How we can help
Babies and children, particularly premature babies, encounter several unique respiratory issues that are distinct from those seen in adults. These differences are primarily due to the immaturity and developmental status of their respiratory systems. Hence when seeking respiratory physiotherapy for your child, it’s important to find a physiotherapist who specialises in respiratory paediatric care, with both an understanding of premature babies as well as children and adolescents who have grown up with congenital or developmental respiratory conditions.
Here at Sydney Kids Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists have the unique experience of working in both Neonatal Intensive Care Units as well as Paediatric Intensive Care Units in 2 major tertiary hospitals in Sydney. In addition, we have the skills and experience of working with babies and children in the community who have ongoing respiratory needs.
Treatments we offer
The goal of Respiratory Physiotherapy is to keep a child’s chest clear, prevent recurrent chest infections and hospitalisations so that they can participate in activities of daily living as well as enjoy sports with their peers in the community. Depending on a child’s age, cognitive development and respiratory integrity, we are able to offer a wide variety of strategies to help them manage any acute or chronic respiratory issues.
Chest Physiotherapy
Chest physiotherapy for children is a set of techniques and treatments designed to help clear mucus and secretions from the lungs and improve respiratory function. It is particularly beneficial for children with chronic respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and certain types of pneumonia. The main components and techniques involved in chest physiotherapy for children are Postural Drainage, Percussion, Vibration, Coughing Techniques, Breathing Exercises and Airway Clearance Devices.
High Flow Humidified Air (AirVo2)
High Flow Humidified Air is the delivery of high flow humidified air and oxygen if needed to a child to help moisten their airways in order to shift secretions and clear their lungs to help them breathe better, resolve chest infections faster and prevention escalations of chest infections into chronic lung diseases or pneumonia requiring hospitalisation. Here at Sydney Kids Physio, we use the Fisher & Pykel AirVo2 to effectively help babies and children overcome recurrent chest colds and infections to keep them healthy and well.
Asthma Education and Management
An estimated 10% (around 460,000) of Australian children aged 0–14 are reported to have asthma as a long-term condition. Asthma prevalence is twice as high among children with disability (18%) compared with children with no reported disability (8.9%).
Asthma education and management in children involve comprehensive strategies aimed at helping children and their caregivers understand the condition, control symptoms, and prevent asthma attacks. Effective asthma education and management improve the child’s quality of life and reduce hospital visits and missed school days. If your child is using ventolin puffers more than once a month, it would be beneficial to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapsits to find out how to better control their asthma.
Conditions we support
Respiratory conditions in children encompass a variety of disorders that affect the lungs and breathing. These conditions can range from acute infections to chronic diseases. Left untreated or poorly managed, respiratory conditions in babies and children can significantly impact their lives, affecting their health, development, and overall well-being.Respiratory Physiotherapists play a crucial role in managing and treating various respiratory conditions in children. Our interventions are often aimed at improving lung function, enhancing breathing, and reducing symptoms.
Cystic Fibrosis
A genetic disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system, and other organs.It is caused by mutations in the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene, which affects the production and function of the CFTR protein. The defective CFTR protein leads to the production of thick and sticky mucus in various organs like the lungs and pancreas. Symptoms include persistent coughing with phlegm, frequent lung infections, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms occur due to airway hyperreactivity and obstruction, which can be triggered by various factors. Poorly managed asthma can lead to severe health complications, frequent hospitalizations, and a diminished quality of life for children. By adhering to a comprehensive asthma management plan, including regular medication use, trigger avoidance, and continuous monitoring, most children with asthma can maintain good control of their symptoms and lead healthy, active lives.
Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity (Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia)
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), also known as chronic lung disease of prematurity, is a serious lung condition that primarily affects premature infants who require mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). BPD results from the combined effects of lung immaturity, inflammation, and injury caused by mechanical ventilation and prolonged oxygen exposure. Many children with BPD continue to experience respiratory problems, such as wheezing and susceptibility to infections, throughout childhood. Some infants may have delays in growth and developmental milestones, requiring ongoing support and intervention. Severe cases of BPD can lead to chronic lung disease, impacting respiratory function into adulthood.
Common respiratory conditions by age groups
Wondering if your child is experiencing recurrent chest infections or breathing issues more often than most of their peers?
Or Perhaps you are concerned that your child seems to constantly be battling a runny, snotty nose?
Respiratory conditions in babies and children can vary significantly depending on their age and developmental stage. Understanding these conditions and their age-specific prevalence can help in early identification, timely intervention, and appropriate management to ensure better respiratory health outcomes for children.
Early detection and intervention by a paediatric physiotherapist can significantly improve outcomes for these conditions.
Newborns may experience a variety of respiratory conditions that require specialised care. Breathing difficulties can arise from factors such as delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid, inhalation of amniotic fluid, immature brainstem development, or birth defects like an abnormal diaphragm opening or cystic lung masses. High blood pressure in the lungs is another potential complication.
Infants between 1 month and 1 year may face various respiratory conditions requiring specialised care. Inflammation of the bronchioles, often due to RSV, can cause significant breathing difficulties. Soft, immature cartilage in the upper larynx may collapse during inhalation, leading to further respiratory challenges. Genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis affect the lungs and digestive system from an early age. Severe coughing fits from whooping cough, distinctive barking coughs from croup, and lung infections like pneumonia add to the potential complications.
Toddlers can encounter a range of respiratory conditions that require specialised care. Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, can cause wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Croup, characterized by a barking cough and stridor, remains common in this age group. Inhalation of foreign objects can lead to airway obstruction, requiring immediate attention. Pneumonia, particularly bacterial, continues to be a concern, along with bronchitis, which involves inflammation of the bronchial tubes often following a viral infection.
Preschoolers and early Primary Schoolers may face several respiratory conditions requiring specialised care. Asthma symptoms, including recurrent wheezing and coughing, often become more apparent. Croup episodes can still occur but are usually less severe than in younger children. Inflammation of the tonsils and adenoids, known as tonsillitis and adenoiditis, can lead to breathing problems, particularly during sleep. Allergic rhinitis causes nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes due to allergic reactions. Pneumonia remains a risk, especially from viral infections.
School-age children may face a range of respiratory conditions requiring specialised care. Asthma is prevalent in this age group, presenting with recurrent wheezing and coughing that necessitate effective management. Chronic nasal congestion from allergic rhinitis can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Sinusitis, following colds or allergies, adds to respiratory challenges with inflammation or infection of the sinuses. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction causes asthma-like symptoms during physical activity, affecting a child’s ability to participate in sports. Mycoplasma pneumonia, or “walking pneumonia,” is also common.
Adolescents may experience various respiratory conditions that require ongoing specialised care. Asthma management remains crucial, focusing on triggers and proper medication use. Allergic rhinitis and sinusitis persist, potentially impacting quality of life and school performance. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction becomes more prevalent with increased sports activity, causing asthma-like symptoms. Vocal cord dysfunction, often mistaken for asthma, involves inappropriate closure of the vocal cords during breathing. Respiratory infections like colds, influenza, and pneumonia can still occur, though less frequently than in younger children.
Information for parents
As parents, you know your child best. If you feel and see something happening in your child which makes you worry or concerns you, trust your gut instinct. Even if the medical professionals, friends, family and well wishers say to you that “you are overreacting and paranoid”, it doesn’t hurt to speak to a trained and experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist about your concerns for your child.
Here at Sydney Kids Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists have been helping families and children since 2006. We provide the unique service of bringing knowledge and experience from Neonatal Intensive Care and Paediatric Intensive Care into the community to help babies and children with respiratory conditions improve their lung function and prevent recurrent hospitalisations. The common misconception we see in the community is families accepting that their child’s constant running nose or chest cold is simply part of their child’s condition and normal life. Parents think that having a child with Down Syndrome means having a child who has a constant wet cough and runny nose, or having a premature baby means having to manage floppy lungs and recurrent chest infections which results in frequent hospitalisations and antibiotics for the rest of their lives or having a child with asthma means having to use ventolin 2-3 times a week to manage acute asthma attacks. In reality, this doesn’t have to be their normal. Effective Respiratory Physiotherapy can improve their child’s respiratory function, reduce secretions and phlegm in their lungs to prevent chest infections or asthma attacks.
If you are tired of watching your child endure recurrent chest infections or miss out participating in school life or social activities, reach out to Sydney Kids Physio to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists. Find out about how we can help your child improve their lung function so they can start to participate with their friends more everyday!
You don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a Paediatric Physiotherapist in Australia. Take advantage of our 15 minute FREE PHONE CONSULTATION.
We're only ever a phone call away.
Information for specialists
As Paediatric Physiotherapists, we are often working closely with General Practitioners, Paediatricians, Neurologists, Respiratory Specialists, Paediatric Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Dietitians, Feeding Therapists, Psychologists, Behavioural Therapists, Optometrists, Behavioural Optometrists, Orthotists and Podiatrists to help little ones achieve their best potentials.
Unlike orthopaedic conditions, or neurodevelopmental conditions, respiratory conditions don’t sit on the front of mind of many medical professionals. Apart from awareness Covid-19, and the precaution of isolating or preventing children with any signs of colds or coughs from attending medical appointments, there is a lack of awareness of the role of Respiratory Physiotherapy in managing acute or chronic chest infections in children with pre-existing lung conditions such as Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Cystic Fibrosis or Asthma in the community.
Here at Sydney Kids Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists have been helping families and children since 2006. We provide the unique service of bringing knowledge and experience from Neonatal Intensive Care and Paediatric Intensive Care into the community to help babies and children with respiratory conditions improve their lung function and prevent recurrent hospitalisations.
If you are a Medical Professionals seeing a child who is limited in their activities of daily living because of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, or have a constant upper respiratory tract infections and recurrent chest colds or even poorly managed Asthma resulting in frequent cancellations of therapy appointments, it is worthwhile referring them for Respiratory Physiotherapy to improve their respiratory function.
Reach out to Sydney Kids Physio to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists about your concerns about the child you are seeing to find out if we can help improve their respiratory function to allow them to increase their social participation with their peers and family. Together we can help more children build great foundations for bright futures.
We're only ever a phone call away.
Welcome
The Dream Team
It takes a village to raise a child, and that saying is never more true when you have a child with Special Needs. At Sydney Kids Physio, you can be assured that our team is committed to helping you equip your child with the skills they need to achieve their best potential.
Our Team led by Neesha Gan, an Expert Paediatric Physiotherapist with over 26 years of Physiotherapy experience, lives by our core values to deliver Expert Knowledge with Empathy, Respect and Transparent Communication. We understand that the journey of parenting is a lifelong journey filled with the greatest joys and the deepest sorrows which can be overwhelming and daunting at times. We have walked that journey together with thousands of families, and we believe that working together, we can and must create great foundations for bright futures. We look forward to being a part of your family’s journey.
