Physical Therapy

We provide inpatient and outpatient physical therapy services with a focus on family-centered care. Our physical therapy team utilizes advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment to help children recover and regain their functional mobility.

We help patients who need physical therapy for a variety of reasons – from children with medical conditions and developmental disorders to those who have been injured. Our physical therapists design treatment plans specifically tailored to each patient’s needs.

CHKD offers outpatient physical therapy services at 10 locations throughout Hampton Roads. Families can schedule appointments close to their home. We have aquatics programs in Chesapeake, Newport News, and Virginia Beach.

Using a play-based philosophy, we help patients achieve their goals in a fun atmosphere.

Our physical therapy specialties include:

  •  Manual therapy 
  •  Therapeutic taping
  •  Infant massage
  •  Electrical stimulation
  •  Aquatic therapy
  •  Airway clearance
  •  Locomotor training
  •  Pelvic floor therapy
  •  Serial casting
  •  Neurodevelopmental treatment
  •  Splinting
  •  Hypermobility disorders
  •  Interactive metronome
  •  Car seat technicians

Making Great Strides: Foot Drop Therapy

Taking a simple step can be frustrating for a child with foot drop. A new therapeutic intervention used at CHKD offers hope.

In the past, using a stiff brace to hold the foot up was the only answer. Now a much smaller electrical device worn on the leg sends low-level electrical stimulations to activate the nerves and muscles that lift the foot. The stimulations are triggered by a sensor in the shoe to time muscle activation appropriately with the child's walking pattern.

With the device, children with foot drop are walking more naturally and confidently, and getting back to what matters most - being a kid.

Caregivers: For an evaluation to determine if your child is an appropriate candidate for the device, or for referral information, please contact the physical medicine and rehabilitation office at (757) 668-9915.

Providers: Fax referrals to (757) 668-7389 or learn more here.


Our physical therapists are licensed/certified by the Virginia State Board of Medicine. They work with patients to achieve optimal function in one or more of the following areas:

  • Gross motor development
  • Balance and coordination
  • Gait training
  • Strength, endurance and exercise training
  • Lower extremity and trunk range-of-motion activities
  • Functional independence, including bed mobility, transfers and wheelchair mobility
  • Weight management
  • Burn care and follow-up treatment
  • Evaluation for equipment to increase independence and enhance performance
  • Family and patient instruction and education
  • Coordination of care, including discharge needs