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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Pediatric Rehabilitation

Children of all ages from birth to adulthood come to Johns Hopkins for pediatric rehabilitation. Our experienced team offers a wide range of services, from physical and occupational therapy through Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, to specialized treatment for spinal cord injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute. No matter your child’s health condition, we will connect you with the right physician or therapist.

In This Section:

Physicians | Therapists | Expertise |  Why Choose Johns Hopkins

Schedule an Appointment

Schedule by phone

Physician appointments:
Kennedy Krieger Institute: 443-923-9400

Therapy appointments:
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center: 443-287-9262

Schedule online through MyChart

Log into MyChart | MyChart FAQ

Pediatric Rehabilitation: Why Choose Johns Hopkins

  • Our pediatric rehabilitation experts work side by side with children and their families to develop custom treatment plans to meet their needs.
  • Our goal is to help your child get back to the life he or she enjoys: at home, in family and social activities, as part of sports and recreation, in school-based programs — and more.
  • Our team uses age-appropriate treatment techniques and tools, including toys and games, to increase your child’s comfort and participation in therapy sessions.
  • Our therapists have years of additional training and experience beyond the standard requirements, allowing them to evaluate and treat children with a wide range of conditions.

    • Pediatric occupational therapist observing mother feeding her baby

    We can help your child with:

    • Walking
    • Weakness and fatigue
    • Joint stiffness
    • Pain
    • Endurance
    • Injury recovery
    • Play and fine motor skills

    • Changes in posture
    • Delayed development
    • Headaches
    • Dizziness
    • Scar tissue restriction
    • Numbness in feet or hands
    • Eating and feeding

    Spinal Muscular Atrophy | Sofia's Story

    Sofia has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which affects 1 in 10,000 infants and results in progressive loss of mobility, respiratory complications, muscle weakness and atrophy, as well as challenges swallowing and eating. While this condition can often be lethal, Sofia received an innovative gene-targeting therapy to reverse some of her symptoms, allowing her to make progress in physical therapy sessions.

    Read more
    physical therapist encouraging baby Sofia to turn over

    Specialized Pediatric Expertise

    Our team of therapists works closely with a variety of specialists in and outside Johns Hopkins, including experts in pediatric reconstructive surgery, spinal muscular atrophy, juvenile diabetes, cystic fibrosis and pediatric hypertension, as well as the staff at the pediatric intensive care unit.

    We also offer specialized expertise in the following conditions and treatments:

    • Medically complex patient care, including rehabilitation for children recovering from burns or other physical trauma, organ transplants and other complex conditions
    • Pediatric cancer rehabilitation, spanning from diagnosis to post-treatment recovery
    • Orthopaedic rehabilitation, which covers a variety of bone and joint conditions
    • Treatment for infant torticollis (twisted neck) and plagiocephaly (flat spot on the head)
    • Serial casting, the application and removal of casts, each at a slightly different angle, to stretch tight muscles and improve range of motion

    • Pediatric wheelchair evaluation, including a comprehensive mobility assessment and follow-up care to address your child’s needs as he or she grows
    • Vestibular rehabilitation, the diagnosis and treatment of dizziness and balance disorders
    • Cardiopulmonary care, which is for children with heart and lung problems, such as cystic fibrosis
    • Activity-based restorative therapy for spinal cord injury and chronic paralysis at Kennedy Krieger Institute

    Our Pediatric Rehabilitation Team

    Pediatric Rehabilitation Physicians

    Stephen Nichols, M.D.

    Senior Attending Physician, Rehabilitation Services, Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital

    Expertise: Pediatric Rehabilitation

    Headshot of Stephen Nichols

    Pediatric Rehabilitation Therapists

    Our pediatric therapy team works with you and your child to assess and treat a variety of impairments.

    Learn more
    
    International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute

    When your child has a spinal cord injury, life changes forever. Recovery is possible, and there is potential to make progress even years after the injury. Children with chronic paralysis find new hope through activity-based restorative therapy at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Rather than compensating for the loss of function, this program aims to restore as much of the normal function as medically possible.

    Learn more about the center
    - Watch on YouTube