Eagle Rehab clinic helps make therapeutic treatment child's play

By GREGG L. PARKER
For the Madison Spirit writeone35758@yahoo.com
Business focuses on pediatrics as well as programs for adults

Eagle Rehab Physical Therapy and Wellness not only helps adults return to a normal lifestyle but reaches children in a way they enjoy: therapeutic play.

Scott and Stephanie Pruitt are registered physical therapists. Scott works with adult patients. Stephanie is responsible for pediatric therapy and is chief financial officer. "It's really two separate parts of one clinic," she said.

The clinic covers 6,000 square feet. One-third of the clinic is dedicated to pediatrics and includes a pediatric gym, baby room and handwriting room, she said. "We utilize a long, wide hallway for riding bikes, running, scooter boards and other fun therapeutic activities that require lots of space."

The therapeutic equipment includes bikes, tricycles, a trapeze bar, ladder, balance beam and manipulative toys to engage children during treatment.

Children's therapy relies on a child's main interest: playing. In therapeutic play, Stephanie Pruitt may have children walk up steps, slide on their stomach and wheelbarrow-walk to repeat the exercise. On a swing set with platform, sling and tire swings, "children can fly like a bird by laying on their stomach. One favorite is bumper balls, using big physioballs to gently bump to work on dynamic balance, eye-hand coordination and deep pressure."

Eagle Rehab is fully equipped to do casting for orthotics, often required for children's treatment. "We're trained to fit and monitor orthotic use," she said.

The clinic tries to know the most current medical techniques in order to offer its patients the best treatment, Pruitt said. "Children with cerebral palsy show excellent progress with the postural restoration program. These exercises and techniques have prevented one patient from having hip surgery," she said.

Eagle Rehab treats children with torticollis or head tilted to one side, plagiocephaly or skull flattening, spina bifida, developmental delay, fine motor delay and orthopedic injuries.

"Sensory integration is a hot topic in therapy. Children with sensory processing disorders make up the bulk of my caseload," she said.

In addition to pediatric physical therapy, the clinic offers a wellness program, massage therapy and orthopedic and sports physical therapy for adults.

Eagle Rehab sees patients by physician referral, an Alabama requirement. Parents choose a child's individual therapist.

The clinic has eight employees: three therapists, two assistants, one massage therapist, one marketing representative and one office manager.

The Pruitts graduated from the University of South Alabama College of Allied Health Professions with degrees in physical therapy in 1998. They have three sons: 8, 6 and 4 years old. Stephanie said her sons are "my biggest source of education with my pediatric career."

Hours are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Pediatric patient appointments are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday from 1 to 5 p.m. Call for other appointment times.

Eagle Rehab is located in the Madison Professional Centre, 44 Hughes Road, Suite 1050. For more information, call 325-5400, send a fax to 325-5469, send e-mail to eaglepeds@knology.net or visit www.eaglerehabpt.com.d