Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) – Treatments & Services

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital provides personalized physical medicine and rehabilitation care for children with conditions caused by illness, injury or chronic disabilities. We offer a wide range of treatments and services designed to help children overcome their health challenges and live their best possible lives.

Treatments

We provide a variety of treatments and therapies for your child, including:

Baclofen pump

This pump delivers a muscle relaxer to help treat tight, stiff muscles (also called spasticity). Therapists place it one side of the belly near the hip bone. A catheter attached to the pump delivers the medicine to the right area of the spinal cord, making it a more targeted treatment than oral medicine.

Botox injection

Muscle stiffness is a common issue for children with cerebral palsy. Botox blocks the chemical signals between nerves and muscles that make muscles tighten. With Botox injections, children feel less muscle pain, have a better gait pattern and experience an improved range of motion.

EMG nerve conduction studies

In this study, several electrodes are taped to the skin and one electrode sends brief electric pulses stimulate specific nerves. Another electrode then records the nerve’s ability to send impulses to the muscle. This helps our care team find the specific location of numbness, tingling or pain.

Concussion (TBI) evaluations

We quickly assess potential brain injuries through a 15-point test, using speech, eye movement and the ability to follow directions. We may order additional tests such as CT scans or MRIs, if needed.

Skin biopsies for chronic pain

A minimally invasive skin biopsy can help detect damage to small nerve fibers. The results can help provide a diagnosis of neuropathy and track its progression.

Trigger point injection

Trigger points are painful “knots” in neck, shoulder, arms, legs and lower back muscles. After a local anesthetic, trigger point injections use steroids or Botox to soothe pain and tenderness. This treatment is used if other treatments aren’t helpful and can make physical therapy be more effective.

Specialty Clinics

Craniofacial Clinic

The Craniofacial Clinic at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of just four craniofacial care programs in Florida and the only one of its kind in Broward, Palm Beach and Collier counties. We offer advanced, innovative treatment for children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies. We also provide surgical and non-surgical treatment options to help children and adolescents recover and rehabilitate.

Concussion Clinic

The multidisciplinary team at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s Concussion Clinic provides comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and management of concussions in infants, young children and teenagers.

Wheelchair Clinic

Contact Us

Could physical medicine and rehabilitation services help improve your child’s quality of life? Call us at 954-265-4000 to schedule a consultation.