Blythedale’s Physical Therapy Department provides therapeutic evaluations, screening and services to help restore function, improve ability, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of children recovering from injuries or a wide range of illnesses.
Contact information
Linda Fieback, PT, MA, PCS, Director of Physical Therapy
Referral Information
To make a referral to our Physical Therapy department, please download the attached form.
Referral FormTreatment plans often include exercise for patients who have been immobilized and lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. In addition, pediatric physical therapists promote development of normal components of movement and gross motor skills.
Augmentative therapies provided by Blythedale’s Physical Therapy department include treatment and consultation in orthopedics, neuromuscular disorders, developmental delay and sports medicine, aquatic therapy, lower extremity orthotic fabrication, and durable medical equipment recommendations.
Therapeutic interventions utilized within physical therapy include the Balance Master, Functional Electrical Stimulation such as the MOTOmed, the Walk Aide, and the Lite Gait. These interventions support each child’s customized treatment plan to allow each child to realize his or her potential, restore function and move forward.
Empowering families with knowledge and skills through ongoing education also enhances the rehabilitation process. The Physical Therapy department is actively engaged in research with the use of the Walk Aide and nonprogressive neurological clients.
Click here to learn more about the Hospital's Seating and Mobility Service.
Karen Conti, PT, MA, DPT, ATP, C/NDT
Assistant Director of Physical Therapy/Assistive Technology Professional
Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury
With the only dedicated post-acute pediatric brain injury unit in New York State - specifically constructed to treat children and adolescents with brain injuries - and our expertly trained clinical team, Blythedale is uniquely positioned to provide the best environment for recovery.
As technology continues to advance, children with special needs are becoming increasingly more integrated into the world around them. Blythedale's comprehensive Assistive Technology program, one of only a few such programs in New York State, is opening doors for these children.
Blythedale is the only specialty children’s hospital in New York State with the capability of providing the highest level of medical care and rehabilitation for children recovering from complex medical conditions, including childhood cancers.
Blythedale’s commitment to the highest level of medical and rehabilitative care, and ongoing integration of the newest cardiac support technologies for medically fragile children, is evident in our Cardiac Rehabilitation program.
As an expert in helping medically fragile children achieve their highest potential, Blythedale is well-suited to help transition a child with multiple complex chronic conditions from hospital to home.
Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
For children recovering from multiple traumatic injuries, extensive orthopedic surgery or complex surgery, Blythedale offers a highly specialized, integrated approach to care.
Complex Wound and Burn Management
Blythedale is a center of excellence in treating children with complex burns and wounds. The goal of the complex wound rehabilitation team is to obtain maximum autonomy and functionality while maintaining the optimal integrity of the healing wound or grafts with scar control.
Blythedale is widely recognized as a leader in treating children with rare conditions, spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disorders including muscular dystrophy and other myopathies, neuropathies, motor neuron diseases and neuromuscular junction disorders as well as complex genetic syndromes.
Blythedale has a commitment to achieving the best outcomes for infants coming for intensive rehabilitation following Neonatal Intensive Care stays. With a staff of full-time neonatologists overseeing the care our infants, and the addition of neonatal fellows, Blythedale continues to push the boundaries of what post-acute neonatal care can provide to medically fragile infants.
Pre/Post Organ & Stem Cell Transplant
At Blythedale Children’s Hospital, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, pediatric attending staff supports infants, children and adolescents prior to and following complicated transplant procedures including heart, liver, kidney, bowel, and even multi-organ transplants.
Pulmonary hypertension is relatively rare, occurring in only two children per one million. Despite its low occurrence, Blythedale treated 30 children with pulmonary hypertension last year.
Blythedale’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation program is widely recognized as a national center of excellence due to the Hospital’s extraordinary success weaning fragile infants and children from respiratory support machines for an improved quality of life. Our parent training programs help ensure that caregivers are both confident and competent in caring for their child.
As the only pediatric specialty hospital in New York State, Blythedale Children’s Hospital has the ability to evaluate and treat complex feeding difficulties in children with a team of pediatric specialists who work exclusively with medically fragile children.
John's Brave Journey Back from Brain Injury
Two days after the start of third grade, John was at home playing video games with his dad. He suddenly screamed, “I can’t see!” and then began vomiting and went unconscious. The eight-year-old was rushed to an emergency room in Staten Island where a CT scan showed bleeding in his brain from a...
Brandon is an 11-year-old who lets nothing slow him down - not even a heart transplant. He was born with multiple congenital heart defects, including heterotaxy, a rare condition which is characterized by septal defects and valve disorders, and an inability to productively return blood from the...
Four-month-old Charlie was born with Ryanodine Receptor 1 Related (RYR-1) Myopathy, a rare genetic disorder that disrupts the flow of calcium in muscle cells, limiting the muscle's ability to contract. Diagnosed with low muscle tone at birth, Charlie was transferred from the NICU to Blythedale...
Visiting Blythedale is the best way to learn more about our programs and services. We are here to help you find the answers to your questions.
At Blythedale we understand the value of balancing work and family. Our employees have the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally while making a meaningful contribution to improve the lives of children.
