The Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Approach to Pediatric Rehabilitation

Pediatric Rehabilitation provides a comprehensive interdisciplinary team approach to rehabilitation in order to prevent, diagnose and treat, congenital and childhood onset disabilities for children from birth to age 21.

Our goal is to improve physical, psychosocial, and vocational limitations by identifying a patients abilities and utilizing interventional strategies such as but not limited to medications, injections, equipment/orthotics and therapies in order to maximize their function and promote physical healing and emotional well- being and improve quality of life. 

The Pediatric rehabilitation physician (physiatrist) is board-certified and diagnoses and treats a variety of issues related to traumatic and acquired brain injury, stroke, brain surgery, spinal cord injury, cancer, neuromuscular diseases and other musculoskeletal problems.

Rehabilitation Programs

Our programs include treatment for:

• Acquired and traumatic brain injury
• Multiple trauma and mobility disorders
• Spinal cord injury
• Musculoskeletal/orthopaedic conditions
• General rehabilitation
• Concussion
• Cerebral palsy
• Stroke
• Spasticity/intrathecal baclofen pump
• Spina Bifida
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Orthotics/adaptive equipment/mobility devices

Programs may be on an acute inpatient admission, acute inpatient rehabilitation admission, outpatient or daily basis.

Personalized Treatments

We will work with you and your child to create a personalized treatment plan that may include specialist from other areas including neuropsychology, physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as music therapy and therapeutic recreation.

Why Choose Penn State Health Children's Hospital for Care?

We offer both inpatient and outpatient services for children and adolescents who need rehabilitation. Our providers work with pediatric specialists, referring doctors, schools, the family and the child to set care goals and track progress. We also help families find other services and resources.

Conditions Treated

We provide care for:

• Brain injuries
• Stroke
• Cerebral palsy
• Brain surgery
• Spinal cord injuries
• Musculoskeletal problems
• Mobility deficits, trouble with walking
• Generalized weakness or focal limb weakness due to injuries
• Serious burns
• Neuromuscular diseases
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Autoimmune diseases, Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Acquired and traumatic brain injury
• Multiple trauma, mobility disorders
• Spinal cord injury
• Orthopaedics and general rehabilitation
• Concussions
• Spasticity
• Scoliosis
• Torticollis
• Arm, hip, leg deformities, contractures
• Prosthetic limbs
• Neuropathic pain related to injury
• Stroke
• Brain infections or chronic illness

Support Groups

Support groups provide children and their families an opportunity to connect with others in similar situations. Learn more about the support groups offered at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

View All Support Groups