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The Paediatric Special Interest Group

The Paediatric Special Interest Group (PSIG) was established by a group of Physiotherapists working with children to provide a network and information base for members and to assist other people with an interest in this field.

Philosophy

The paediatric Physiotherapist applies physiotherapy skills and knowledge to the assessment of the child and the design, delivery and evaluation of a treatment programme for the management of neonates, infants, children and adolescents. The paediatric Physiotherapist aims to maximise the child's physical potential within the framework of Family Centred Care using developmentally appropriate intervention.

These children may have wide-ranging and often complex conditions including but not limited to: respiratory, musculoskeletal, neurological/neuromuscular, congenital, developmental delay and psychiatric/psychological conditions associated with a physical condition.

History

The PSIG was conceived in 1992, formed in 1993 with the development of an executive and a set of rules and ratified by the NZSP in 1995. From the beginning the PSIG has published a newsletter which is currently produced quarterly as TOPPS (Topics of interest for paediatric Physiotherapists). In 1995 the PSIG logo was created by Georgia Hibberdine and adopted by the group. "Standards and Guidelines for Paediatric Physiotherapy Practice" was written and ratified in 1998 and is regularly reviewed.

Membership

Any NZ registered Physiotherapist with an interest in paediatrics, who is also a member of the NZSP, is eligible to join. The current membership includes Physiotherapists working in education, health and community paediatrics.

Subscription Rates

The subscription is $30 per year, payable with NZSP annual subscription.

Benefits of Membership

• Access to a professional support network
  
• Access to professional development through the PSIG website, the quarterly TOPPS magazine, the PSIG library and supported professional courses
  
• Representation through the elected committee at local and national level
  
• Access to marketing resources
  

Link to the Paediatric Special Interest Group pages devoted to:

• Musculo-Skeletal Physiotherapy
  
• Neurological/Neuromuscular Physiotherapy
  
• Respiratory Physiotherapy
  
• Other paediatric therapies
  
• Courses and conferences in paediatric Physiotherapy
• News & Views

PSIG Study Award Click here for details

Disclaimer:
The Paediatric Special Interest Group (PSIG) has no control over the content or condition of any external sites linked to this site. These links are provided for the convenience of users but they do not imply any endorsement of any organisation, product, or service.

Links to relevant worldwide websites:

• The Bobath Centre:
  The English site for the Bobath Centre. This is a non-profit making organisation that specialises in the treatment of cerebral palsy and acquired neurological conditions in children & adults, the training of postgraduate therapists and doctors in the Bobath approach, and carries out research into these conditions and the ways of mitigating their effects.

• Australian Bobath Neuro-Developmental Therapy Association:
  Australian Bobath Association site

• National Centre for Biotechnology Information:
  Research papers on cerebral palsy

• Merck Manual of diagnosis and therapies:
  Chapter of manual on cerebral palsy

• British Medical Journal:
  Search for articles published in the British Medical Journal

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke:
  US site with information on cerebral palsy