Early Paediatrics in East Cannington
Early Intervention Specialist Care from Day One
From the moment your baby is born, their development journey begins, and early intervention can make all the difference in setting them up for lifelong success.
At Healing with Alena, Alena Helikarova is a physiotherapist who specialises in early childhood physiotherapy with an incredible passion for helping babies and young children reach their full potential. Her expertise spans from newborn care through pre-school age rehabilitation, providing comprehensive support when your child needs it most.
Alena’s holistic and transdisciplinary approach focuses on improving mobility, strength, balance, coordination, motor planning, and other gross motor skills for children with developmental, neuromuscular, and congenital conditions.
What makes her approach special is the combination of hands-on treatment with extensive parent education, ensuring you have the knowledge and tools to support your child’s development every day at home.
Comprehensive Screening & Assessment
Every child develops at their own pace, but early identification of potential concerns can prevent minor issues from becoming bigger challenges later. Alena provides preventative developmental screening and thorough assessments for babies and children, examining motor skill development, muscle tone, balance, coordination, and overall movement patterns. This comprehensive evaluation helps identify any developmental delays or areas where your child might benefit from additional support.
Specialised Treatment for Common Childhood Concerns
Alena has specific expertise in addressing a wide range of conditions that can affect babies and young children. Her areas of specialisation include torticollis and head shape management (plagiocephaly), developmental concerns associated with positional talipes and DDH (developmental dysplasia of the hip), low muscle tone (hypotonia), and difficulties with tummy time tolerance or head control. She also provides expert care for babies struggling with wind, colic, or breastfeeding problems due to tongue tightness.
For older children, Alena addresses musculoskeletal and gait abnormalities such as toe walking or in-toeing, joint hypermobility, and concerns with balance, coordination, and strength. Her comprehensive approach means she can support children with various developmental, neuromuscular, and congenital conditions, as well as those with breathing problems such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.
Baby Massage Education and Parent Empowerment
One of the most valuable services Alena offers is baby massage education, teaching parents gentle techniques to massage their infant safely and effectively. These massage techniques can help with muscle tone development, circulation, digestion, sleep patterns, and overall bonding between parent and child. Learning these skills empowers you to actively support your baby’s development whilst creating beautiful bonding moments together.
Beyond massage education, Alena provides comprehensive guidance to new parents about developmental milestones by age and teaches practical strategies to encourage motor development. You’ll learn optimal positioning for play, how to implement targeted exercises into daily play routines, and how to create an environment that naturally supports your child’s physical and cognitive development.
The Power of Play-Based Development
Scientific research tells us that simple daily tasks and play activities help children develop both physically and cognitively during their crucial early years. Alena understands that both structured and unstructured play should be incorporated throughout the day to strengthen motor skills, improve coordination, develop problem-solving abilities, enhance the ability to follow directions, and build physical strength.
Her approach integrates therapeutic exercises seamlessly into play activities, making treatment enjoyable for your child whilst achieving optimal developmental outcomes. This play-based approach ensures that therapy feels natural and fun, encouraging your child’s participation and maximising the benefits of each session.
Conditions We Support
Alena’s expertise covers a comprehensive range of conditions and concerns, including:
- Preventative developmental screening for all children
- Developmental delays and early intervention support
- Pre-term babies and emergency C-section recovery
- Torticollis and head shape management (plagiocephaly)
- Low muscle tone (hypotonia) and strength concerns
- Difficulties with tummy time tolerance and head control
- Colic, wind, and digestive concerns
- Breastfeeding difficulties related to tongue tightness
- Gait abnormalities including toe walking and in-toeing
- Joint hypermobility and coordination challenges
- Balance and strength development concerns
Schedule Your Child’s Developmental Assessment
Give your child the gift of optimal development with expert paediatric physiotherapy care from birth onwards. Contact Healing with Alena in East Cannington today to book your child’s comprehensive developmental screening with Alena and take the first step towards supporting their bright, healthy future.