Pediatric physical therapy in Chatsworth that gets your child back to play
About 60 minutes with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, your child's own plan, and you in the room for every visit.
Who pediatric physical therapy is for
School-age children and teenagers come to Dr. Ed for a few common reasons. (Dr. Ed does not treat infants or toddlers.)
- A young athlete with an injury or a pain that keeps coming back.Gymnasts, dancers, soccer, baseball, basketball and swimmers: a back that hurts on backbends, a knee or heel that flares after practice, an ankle that has been sprained twice.
- A child with a pain nobody has explained.Back, knee, hip, heel or neck pain that has lasted more than a couple of weeks, with no clear cause and no clear plan.
- Recovery after a fracture, a cast, a brace or surgery.Getting strength, motion and confidence back once the bone or the repair has healed.
What treatment looks like with Dr. Ed
The first visit is an evaluation of about 60 minutes, depending on what you need, one-on-one with Dr. Ed, with a parent or guardian in the room the whole time; minors are never treated alone. He watches how your child moves, jumps, lands, balances and does the thing that hurts, checks strength, flexibility and alignment, and asks about the sport, the schedule and how the pain started. Then he explains what he found in words a kid can follow, because a child who understands the plan does the exercises.
Every visit after that is about 60 minutes with Dr. Ed, nobody else. Treatment depends on the age and the problem:
- For young athletes: hands-on treatment for the sore area, strength and control work for the muscles that should be protecting it, and a step-by-step return to practice rather than a blanket "rest". Dr. Ed is happy to write a note for the coach about what is and is not allowed this week.
- For younger school-age kids: shorter blocks of work, balance and coordination games, and a home routine you can run in ten minutes after homework.
- For every child: a short written home program for you, the parent, with two or three things to do and how often, updated each visit.
Appointments run until 8pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays, so most families can come after school or practice without missing either. How many visits a child needs depends on the problem; Dr. Ed sets it after the evaluation and tells you straight if he thinks it will be quick.
Gymnasts, dancers and young athletes
Growing bodies get hurt differently. Growth plates are softer than the tendons that pull on them, so a teenager's heel, knee or lower back can hurt in ways an adult's would not, and a flexible young gymnast or dancer can be strong in one direction and unprotected in another. Dr. Ed has treated rhythmic gymnasts, dancers and team-sport kids from the local clubs, and parents say the same thing in their reviews: he is patient, he explains everything, and the results show early.
The aim is never just pain relief. It is the sport, back, done well: the cause fixed, the weak link strengthened, and a clear line on when it is safe to go full speed again.
From the blog: When a young gymnast's back pain is not just a growing pain
Conditions treated
- Sports injuries in children and teens: sprains, strains, overuse injuries
- Back pain in gymnasts, dancers and growing athletes
- Knee pain in growing athletes (including Osgood-Schlatter) and heel pain (including Sever's disease)
- Ankle sprains and recurring ankle instability
- Recovery after a fracture, cast or surgery
- Posture problems and scoliosis-related muscle imbalance
- Growth-related coordination and flexibility problems in teens
"My daughter is 10 years old rhythmic gymnast had a back injury. Edward was very patient with her and worked very diligently with the problem. Results was already showing after 2 sessions."
Insurance and referrals
No referral is needed to start. If your pediatrician or orthopedist has already sent you, bring the paperwork and any imaging; it saves time at the first visit.
- No referral needed to start
- California law lets you see a physical therapist without a referral for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. After that, we need a referral from your doctor to continue. Medicare patients need a referral from the start.
- Insurance
- We accept Medicare and personal injury liens. If you have PPO insurance, we provide a superbill, an itemized receipt you send to your insurer for reimbursement. Direct-pay patients are welcome.
- Visits
- Visits run about 60 minutes, depending on what you need, and every one is one-on-one with Dr. Ed.
Details and what to bring are on the insurance and cost page.
Common questions from parents
What ages do you treat?
School-age children and teenagers, roughly elementary age through high school. Dr. Ed does not treat infants or toddlers. Most of his young patients are athletes and dancers.
Can I stay with my child during the visit?
Yes, and a parent or guardian stays for the whole visit; Dr. Ed does not treat minors without one present. You will see what he does and learn the home exercises so you can run them between visits.
How do I know if it is a growing pain or an injury?
Pain that lasts more than two weeks, a limp, swelling, pain that wakes your child at night, or pain that shows up every time at the same point in practice is worth an evaluation. Dr. Ed will tell you straight if it is nothing to worry about.
Do we need a referral?
No referral is needed to start. California law lets you see a physical therapist without a referral for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first; after that, we need a referral from your doctor to continue. If you have one from your pediatrician, bring it.
Will my child have to stop their sport?
Usually not completely. Dr. Ed works out what is safe this week and what to hold back on, and adjusts it as your child improves, so they keep training as much as the injury allows.
Do you have after-school appointments?
Yes. The clinic is open until 8pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays.
Book your child's evaluation
Tell Dr. Ed what is going on and which sport or activity your child wants to get back to. He will confirm your time by phone or email, usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call (818) 749-3205Dr. Ed answers his own phone.
19851 Nordhoff Place, Unit 105 (Suite C), Chatsworth, CA 91311
Mon to Sat 10am to 8pm, Sun closed. Free parking in the lot in front, no gate code, street parking available.
Book by phone
Call (818) 749-3205Mon to Sat 10am to 8pm, Sun closed
The online booking form opens here soon. Until then, call or email chatsworthpt@gmail.com and we confirm your time, usually the same day.
No payment is required to book.