Belleville Healing Hands - Pediatric and Adult Physiotherapy

04/08/2025

✴️ Surely not the same toy is sought after in every session and for this particular session Playdough with these tiny mice were our Winners!!
Our little superhero had lots of fun while we worked hard together for some foot strengthening exercises !! ✴️😀

P.S. Thank you to the wonderful mama who allowed me to click picture of her child's tiny foot and hand 🙏🏽😊

01/23/2025

The American Academy of Pediatrics updated their media use recommendations in 2016.

In a nutshell the recommendations would be as below -
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time other than video-chatting.
Age 18–24 months: Find high-quality programming (if you choose to introduce screen time), and watch or play together.
Age 2–5: Limit screen use to one hour per day of high-quality programs.

However it sure is very challenging being a parent or a caretaker to a child and to be able stick to these guidelines every time. Here is where more understanding of the matter would help answer some questions!

Some studies that I found noteworthy would be followed up in part 2.

Source of reference for above guidelines - American Academy of Pediatrics and Common Sense Media.

09/18/2024

Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well 😊 It's been a long time since I posted anything over here. After a good gap of several months while waiting for things to streamline after the many changes that have happened, this post is now due!

Things that have changed -
✓ My work location - I am now working part time as a PT with the Children's Treatment Center at the Belleville General hospital (so grateful for this job opportunity !!) and part time with the very very wonderful
✓ The business of Belleville Healing Hands - taking up the job opportunity at the Children's Treatment Center was like a dream opportunity for me. Hence upon accepting this job I took the tough decision of closing the business of Belleville Healing Hands. It was a bitter sweet moment as this name has always been so close to my ❤️. But no big decision is usually easy to make. So I have now closed my business BUT happily moved my private practice over to BIHC!! If you seek my service, you will find me at BIHC on every Tuesday and Thursday. Feel free to give a call to book an appointment!
✓ Work credentials - very happy to share that I was able to get DMI Introductory level B certification a few months ago! Work in progress for level C:)

Things that have NOT changed -
✓I still absolutely adore working with kiddos and pediatrics is my love and passion! Getting more certifications in pediatrics and seeing positive results and treatment outcomes continually fuel this passion. There could be very few things in this world that could be more endearing to look at than the look on the face of a child and their proud parents after child has accomplished a difficult task 💪💖
✓ I continue to let my Google page/insta account and FB page of Belleville Healing Hands thrive as it keeps giving me direction for working more into pediatrics and is a good source for anyone who is looking for pediatric PT to be able to find me with online 🔍
✓ Last but not the least - my awkwardness with small talk remains the same 😄 I honestly try a lot lot lot but it does not seem to budge!

Well, that is it for now. See you all sometime again soon. Until then, keep smiling and take care :)

- Kavita

08/25/2023

Every workplace has a cozy corner and these are mine 💕
Apart from the endless wonderful conversations, the celebrations of attaining a treatment goal or the buckling up after a setback, the inspiring stories or the hilarious talks - what else makes me spend my day delightfully at work are these cozy corners.

Picture one is made by my dear mom - who lives exactly by that motto. Trying to put into words how much this message from her has helped me would be impossible.

Picture two is my two most special angels on earth. My walking and talking hearts. Looking at their pictures at work always keeps my spirits up 🤠

Picture three is a closer look at the beautiful message on that picture frame. I don't shop for these things a lot but I knew I wanted to have this for work the moment I saw it .

Picture 4 is a special collection of rocks. A few painted by my little girl and one is a gift from a very special friend. I call them gratitude rocks. Every time I see them I try to remind myself of one thing I am grateful for 🙏🫶

Picture 5 is adorable and gives such a cute message! We all have difficulties but we can't let them knock us down. We need to know how to Stand Tall

Picture 6 is a toy we use at the clinic. But looking at it the other way, I feel yes we need to know how to Stand Tall but when it's not possible to take that blow that life might be hitting us with, it's important to know how to Duck 😉

08/13/2023

Jumping Jacks - a great activity to start for a child 5 year old if it hasn't already been started!

It not only incorporates a full body movement but getting those hand and leg movements co ordinated and continuing to do so in sync - repetitively - is a high level motor function, one which kids by this age would most likely be ready to learn if they haven't been trying it already.

So without another thought or more scrolling, step on the floor now and enjoy this fun exercise by doing it together today with your kiddos!!

07/19/2023

Hi! A few new faces here and a few more tools in my toolbox so I thought it would be a good idea for a reintroduction!

I am Kavita, Registered Physiotherapist with special training in Pediatric Physiotherapy.

With work that focuses on all age groups and special training in working into Pediatric Physiotherapy - newborns/preemies to teenagers, I absolutely enjoy what I do here at . Working alongside amazing practitioners is a super nice advantage I get here, one that needs a separate exclusive post🫶

Talking about Physiotherapy,

During an adults Physiotherapy session you would find me using various approaches like active mobility/manual therapy/kinesiotaping/various types of cupping/acupuncture/electrotherapy etc - and lots of interactive conversations about how things have been progressing for you.

During a paediatric Physiotherapy session you would find me - moving around a lot through out the session, getting the child to do things that they need to learn doing on their own (like rolling over or walking or transitioning between movements), utilizing space, toys and energy to work in sync in order to get the child to reciprocate.

The intervention strategies that could be used to focus on getting results here could include Sensory Integration informed approach, DMI exercises, NDT informed approach, taping techniques/bracing, newborn handling and parent education etc.

I firmly believe in a good Therapeutic Alliance with every person I work with. It's always a two way conversation and a two way approach. "One treatment fits all" is a statement that I would strongly negate and hence together WE need to come up with the approach that works best for you or for your child.

Have any questions about the info given above or just in general for Physiotherapy? Feel free to drop your queries in the inbox or reach out for an appointment!

Link to book in bio

06/22/2023

June 21 2023 was International Yoga day. I have profound gratitude for the whole purpose of yoga and here I wanted to look at it from a slightly different perspective than a direct talk on the asanas / exercises and their benefits.

As a child my father inculcated in me the habit of reading books. Being an introvert, books turned out to be a comfort place too. I have carried along so many good extracts from these books in my mind as once you read them, they become a part of who you are and they change how you act.

One such blissful read was about Yoga. It was a story in which the Lord of strength is asked that how does he do so much work and yet always look composed and not tired? To which Lord (who is a Yogi) replies that "Yoga is Relaxation during Action." If you love what you do then you can relax WHILE you are doing your work. This part of the story and that sentence has been with me forever. And its so helpful in focusing on a result oriented treatment approach. It's helpful in phasing out the unhelpful surrounding input and staying focused on what needs to be done next. Yet there are times, many times, that this "focusing" does not help and it seems like things are coming crashing down. But then isn't it at times like these our mind digs out the inspiring stuff and brings out stories like the above to help us going?

Always so thankful for the wonderful way of living that these practices bestow us with ❤️

Happy international yoga day to everyone !

05/01/2023

Most of us know this and follow this. But also often times we feel too protective of our little ones and then bundle them up into warm clothes or full onesies even when indoor. As long as it's warm enough for them, we need to remind ourselves that this isn't necessary and also sometimes discouraging for them to move around!

Infant playtime is essentially their 'workout' time. It's their exercise that they give to their bodies - moving around/climbing/push/pull/squat/stand and so much more depending on their age. Or just let's say head holding or rolling over!

With minimal clothing during their active playtimes, their arms and legs can move unrestricted, their skin (the biggest sense organ)can take a good amount of information from their surroundings and help them understand the world around them better and also without any more big word jargon - it just is the most comfortable for most of them to be like that!

02/28/2023

Finally, the final part of the talk on the sense of touch - Therapeutic touch

In simple sense, any touch that is meant to provide some kind of therapy would be therapeutic touch. This therapy could be sought for different purposes. And anyone who provides therapy here is the therapist!

Therapeutic touch serves a very specifically intended purpose for which the therapist providing it is well trained. I believe it does not just come - it is learned - with academic training and later work exposure - hence a skill that constantly evolves and refines itself with more and more experience!

The correct placement of hands to facilitate a weak muscle / to apply just enough pressure so as to slightly support a joint but not make it dependent / to be able to provide calming input to bring down the tightness in a muscle / to brace the weak muscle so that it has enough strength to execute a motor action - all these need specifically intended and well graded hand placements.

Talking of pediatric physical therapy specially in the first year of life, this is sought for various reasons ranging from but not limited to

- muscle tightness or weakness
- delayed milestones
- trauma during birth
- flat spots on head
- difficulty latching while breastfeeding
- atypical movement patterns
- pre term or high risk delivery etc

Several times physical therapist is a part of a bigger team that includes other therapists (OT/SLP/Chiropractor/RMT/Osteopath etc) all working towards the goal of improving the child's overall abilities.

So many professionals right?! All well trained in their own fields. Still at the end of the day it's the touch of a loving parent/caregiver that would very well be therapeutic for the baby.

Thus concluding the whole talk on the sense of touch - just need to say that if you feel your child needs help then make sure to reach out. Talk to your doctor / reach out to professionals. Wait and watch is not always helpful but precautionary steps are. DM for any questions about pediatric physical therapy.

P.s. BIG THANK YOU to parents of this lovely munchkin for letting me click this picture! 💕 (Posted with consent)

09/09/2022

Let's talk about IDEATION

What is Ideation? Ideation is the ability to come up with novel ideas.

This ability is one of the contributors in what makes children play the way they do.

For example, give them a piece of string and see what the child comes up with to make use of that string. One child could pretend it's a worm, another could use it to tie it in the form of a small bow, while the same string will be used by another child to pull together some piece of craft they are making or may be make a wrist band out of it! Same object but numerous ideas in the way it can be used and all these ideas seem to be a perfect use of the object at hand!

All of us have this innate ability to come up with different ideas. Specially in children it is very important to foster this ability of varied imagination instead of trying to fit their minds into one preconceived box of thoughts.

I totally agree structured play and learning has its own wonderful benefits but equally important is for children to have free play and leisure time. In this time, allow the child to come up with ideas of what they would like to do. It would be amazing to see how these little minds can be amazing thinkers when they are given the freedom of time and an open space.

Here my girl decided she wanted to brush her babies teeth. She, with her own thought process asks for some flour, water and color from which she decides to make her own DIY paste 😄 (she just had black color handy when she decided to use lol). Then she got an old toothbrush and got the job done. Later a good bubble bath and Lo! Time well spent with an activity of her choice and this also as you can probably see got some Sensory play done too! A total win win!

As adults we admire when someone has the ability to "Think out of the box." As we can see - this experimental childhood play is where the mind is able to hone the skills needed to be able to do so!

I am hoping this post was insightful into what Ideation is and also why it is so important for kids to have free play :)

Until next time, take care and stay safe!

06/06/2022

Hello everyone!!
It's been a long time since I have last interacted through this page.

Well, after being blessed with my baby girl on April 5 and spending some precious time with her I am happy to say that I am back to work!

As much as I enjoyed being with my little bundle of joy and my lovely family at home, I also missed coming to work and getting to meet all of you amazing people who I get to meet and work with!

Feel free to connect with me if you feel you need an appointment for Physiotherapy or have any questions!

Link to book yourself in

https://therightfittherapy.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/7

Cheers!!
Kavita

06/06/2022

Hello everyone!!
It's been a long time since I have last interacted through this page.

Well, after being blessed with my baby girl on April 5 and spending some precious time with her I am happy to say that I am back to work!

As much as I enjoyed being with my little bundle of joy at home, I also missed coming to work and getting to meet all of you amazing people who I get to meet and work with!

Feel free to connect with me if you feel you need an appointment for Physiotherapy or have any questions!

Link to book yourself in

https://therightfittherapy.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/7

Cheers!!
Kavita

Registered Massage Therapy, Fascial Stretch Therapy, Kinesiology, Osteopathy, Mobility Training