Therapy and coaching
Pediatric Physical Therapy in Los Angeles
Hospitals, clinics and in-home physical therapists for babies, kids and teens across LA, with what to ask and how to get it paid for.
Pediatric physical therapy helps babies, children and teens move better: torticollis and flat spots, late rolling or walking, toe walking, low or high muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and recovery from sports injuries or surgery. In Los Angeles it’s offered at children’s hospitals, private clinics and by PTs who come to your home. Insurance or Medi-Cal can pay when it’s medically necessary, the regional center’s Early Start program serves babies and toddlers, and California Children’s Services gives free PT at school-based therapy units to children who qualify medically.
On this page
15 places for pediatric physical therapy in Los Angeles
Two hospital programs first, then clinics and in-home therapists from central LA and the Westside to the Valley, the San Gabriel Valley, the South Bay and Long Beach. To find pediatric physical therapy near you, check each entry’s area, then call to ask about ages, wait times and insurance.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Physical Therapy
East Hollywood · 4650 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Good for Complex medical needs, bracing and casting
CHLA’s physical therapists treat children from birth to 21 in the hospital, in inpatient rehab and as outpatients. Specialties include developmental delay, torticollis, gait problems, movement and neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, serial casting, equipment and bracing assessments, body-weight-supported treadmill training and Ekso robotic gait training. The department takes referrals by fax at 323-361-8988.
- Ages 0 to 21
- Serial casting and bracing
- Ekso robotic gait training
- Outpatient, weekdays 7:30 to 5:30
Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC)
University Park, near USC · 403 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Good for Cerebral palsy, sports injuries and post-surgery rehab
A children’s orthopaedic hospital with physical and occupational therapy for babies, children and teens: sports injuries and fractures, rehab after surgery, toe walking, flat feet, torticollis, clubfoot, hip dysplasia, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. Its Center for Cerebral Palsy, run with UCLA, brings orthopaedic surgeons, physiatrists, orthotists and physical therapists together for children under 21. Its site says most insurance is accepted.
- Hospital-based PT and OT
- Center for Cerebral Palsy with UCLA
- Sports and post-surgery rehab
- Most insurance accepted
PT N’ Play
Miracle Mile · 5472B Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Good for Babies and toddlers with motor delays
A privately owned pediatric physical therapy practice founded in 2002. Its therapists treat torticollis and plagiocephaly, neurological and genetic disorders, gross motor delays, delays from prematurity, sensory dysfunction, congenital orthopedic problems, movement disorders, and trouble with motor planning and balance, layering several treatment approaches and keeping sessions playful.
- Pediatric PT only
- Torticollis and plagiocephaly
- Prematurity and genetic conditions
- Founded in 2002
ptnplayinc.com (opens their site)323-836-8964On Summerground
Nora B, PT
West LA · 11835 W Olympic Blvd, Suite 925E, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Good for Torticollis and DMI intensives
Nora Bachman, PT, DPT, focuses on infants with torticollis and plagiocephaly and on Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), including intensives, and also offers aquatic PT. She treats all ages, from extreme preemies to young adults, with experience in developmental delay, cerebral palsy, brachial plexus birth injury, Down syndrome, arthrogryposis and rare genetic disorders, plus recovery from injury or surgery. Visits are by appointment.
- DMI, including intensives
- Torticollis and plagiocephaly
- Aquatic physical therapy
- Preemies to young adults
Vida Kids Therapy
Brentwood and Westchester · 11726 San Vicente Blvd, Ste 222, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Good for Babies and toddlers with complex diagnoses
PT, OT and speech for children from birth to 18, though most are 0 to 5, at clinics in Brentwood and Westchester (8616 La Tijera Blvd), at home or online. Its PTs focus on complex diagnoses and delays, including torticollis, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, brain injury and coordination problems, using a LiteGait gait trainer, a Galileo vibration plate, DMI, bracing, TheraTogs and electrical stimulation. There’s also an aquatic program.
- Mostly ages 0 to 5
- LiteGait, DMI and TheraTogs
- Brentwood and Westchester clinics
- Aquatic swim program
- Free consultation
vidakidstherapy.com (opens their site)424-724-0944On Summerground
Play to Move
In-home across LA
Good for Intensive therapy at home
A private pediatric PT practice for ages 0 to 18 that comes to your home across greater LA for screenings, evaluations, ongoing therapy and intensive programs using DMI. Evaluations combine a parent interview, observation and standardized tests. A free 15-minute phone or video consultation helps you decide whether your child needs an evaluation, and families outside LA can do therapy by Zoom.
- Ages 0 to 18
- In-home visits
- DMI intensive programs
- Free 15-minute consultation
LA Orthopedic and Pediatric Physical Therapy
16861 Ventura Blvd, Ste 206, Encino, CA 91436
Good for Valley families with Blue Shield or a PPO
One-on-one, play-based PT for children from birth to 18 (and adults), with each visit led by a licensed therapist rather than an aide. Conditions it commonly sees include developmental delays, torticollis and flat head, cerebral palsy and tone differences, toe walking, balance and coordination, genetic and neuromuscular conditions, and teen sports injuries and surgery. It’s in network with Blue Shield and Medicare, welcomes most PPOs out of network, and checks benefits first.
- Birth to 18
- In network: Blue Shield, Medicare
- Most PPOs out of network
- Toe walking and gait
- Teen sports rehab
Proactive Pediatric Physical Therapy
Tarzana
Good for Toe walking and CP, in clinic or by video
A Tarzana pediatric PT practice for children from birth to 16 that encourages parents to take part in sessions. Services include gross motor development, torticollis and plagiocephaly, cerebral palsy, toe walking, balance and coordination, gait training and orthopedic rehab. Besides clinic visits, it offers teletherapy anywhere in California and home visits on request, priced by travel distance and time.
- Birth to 16
- Teletherapy anywhere in California
- Home visits on request
- Toe walking and gait training
Lil’ Peanuts Physical Therapy
In-home: Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, La Cañada
Good for Babies with a head tilt or flat spot
In-home PT for babies and toddlers in northeast LA neighborhoods, including Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale and La Cañada. The focus is torticollis, plagiocephaly, gross motor delay, toe walking and hypotonia (low muscle tone). Watching your baby move at home, the therapist shows you ways to encourage movement and flexibility in everyday play.
- Babies and toddlers
- In-home visits
- Torticollis and plagiocephaly
- Toe walking and low tone
lilpeanutsphysicaltherapy.com (opens their site)On Summerground
Play On Pediatric Therapy
Altadena and the San Gabriel Valley (in-home)
Good for Evaluation by a board-certified pediatric PT
PT at home or out in the community within about 15 miles of Altadena. Evaluations are done by a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist and include history, observation and standardized testing when it fits; sessions run 30 or 60 minutes. It sees developmental delay, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, genetic and neuromuscular disorders, torticollis, hip dysplasia and recovery from orthopedic injuries.
- Board-certified pediatric specialist
- Home or community visits
- 30- or 60-minute sessions
- Free 20-minute phone consult
playonpediatrictherapy.org (opens their site)On Summerground
Recess Pediatric Therapy
Arcadia (San Gabriel Valley) · 301 E Foothill Blvd #100, Arcadia, CA 91006
Good for Medi-Cal plans and SGV regional center clients
PT, OT, speech and feeding therapy for infants, toddlers and children at the Arcadia clinic, at home, at school or by video across the San Gabriel Valley. PT works on crawling, walking and running, posture and balance, gait, endurance, muscle tone and core strength, for conditions including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, prematurity, torticollis and autism. It takes major HMO and PPO plans and what it calls commercial Medi-Cal, and contracts with three regional centers.
- HMO, PPO and commercial Medi-Cal
- Contracts with three regional centers
- Clinic, home, school or video
- NICU follow-up and prematurity
recesspediatrictherapy.com (opens their site)626-275-6302On Summerground
PT 1st Rehab & Wellness
Montebello and Encino · 433 N 4th St, Unit 208, Montebello, CA 90640
Good for Families near Montebello and the Eastside
A general physical therapy clinic with pediatric care from infancy through adolescence at both its Montebello and Encino (16240 Ventura Blvd) offices, with care from Ardavan Makaremi, PT, DPT, and team. It mentions children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida or autism, and kids recovering from injuries or surgery. It works with Medicare, workers’ comp and several other plans, and will check your coverage before you schedule.
- Infancy through adolescence
- Montebello and Encino
- Open weekdays to 7:30 p.m.
- Checks coverage before you book
startpt1st.com (opens their site)323-246-4616On Summerground
Kids in Motion Pediatric Therapy
3460 Torrance Blvd, Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90503
Good for South Bay kids who need PT at school
A Torrance clinic with physical, occupational and speech therapy. PT, in groups or one-on-one, serves children with developmental delays, torticollis and other orthopedic problems, genetic disorders, heart and lung conditions, muscle diseases and neurological disorders. It’s a certified non-public agency and provides the PT on students’ IEPs for the Redondo Beach, Torrance, Lawndale, El Segundo, Wiseburn and Palos Verdes school districts.
- PT, OT and speech
- Group or individual PT
- IEP physical therapy for 6 districts
- Certified non-public agency
mykidsinmotion.com (opens their site)310-371-8555On Summerground
Thérèse Willis, PT, DPT
South Bay (in-home)
Good for Families who want clear private-pay prices
A pediatric PT with 25 years of experience in LA, including early intervention for regional centers and work with California Children’s Services, who now treats children at home in Redondo, Manhattan and Hermosa Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes and El Segundo. Evaluations take 60 to 90 minutes and include a written report ($300). Sessions are $150, usually once or twice a week, with time to coach you on a home program.
- Evaluation $300
- Sessions $150
- Free 10- to 20-minute consult
- In-home, South Bay
theresepedspt.com (opens their site)310-621-6603On Summerground
SoCal Kids Physical Therapy
3816 Woodruff Ave, Suite 102, Long Beach, CA 90808
Good for Babies, including medically complex ones
A Long Beach pediatric PT practice that posts its prices: $275 for an in-clinic evaluation (for torticollis and flat head, or other concerns) and $299 for a Milestone Membership with four developmental check-ins in your baby’s first 16 months, which you can book without a doctor’s referral. It also runs $45 movement classes for babies up to 4 months, and 60-minute sessions shared by a PT and an SLP/lactation consultant for babies with tightness and feeding trouble.
- Evaluation $275
- Milestone Membership $299 a year
- Baby movement class $45
- Medically complex kids welcome
socalkidspt.com (opens their site)562-247-3467On Summerground
What pediatric physical therapy helps with
Physical therapists are movement specialists. With children, they work on gross motor skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, running and jumping, along with strength, balance, posture and endurance, and they help kids recover after injuries and surgery. The practices on this list commonly see:
- Torticollis (a head that tilts or turns to one side) and plagiocephaly (a flat spot on the head)
- Late rolling, sitting, crawling or walking
- Toe walking and other differences in how a child walks
- Low muscle tone (hypotonia) or high tone, including cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome and other genetic conditions, and neuromuscular conditions such as muscular dystrophy
- Clumsiness, or trouble with balance and coordination
- Sports injuries, fractures and rehab after surgery
If hand skills, sensory needs or self-care are the bigger issue, an occupational therapist may fit better; see pediatric occupational therapy in LA. Some therapists also use horses in treatment; see equine therapy and hippotherapy.
How to choose a pediatric physical therapist
Physical therapists and PT assistants in California are licensed by the Physical Therapy Board of California. New PTs must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from an accredited program and pass a licensing exam (APTA). Some go on to become board-certified pediatric clinical specialists, shown as PCS, though PTs don’t need that to treat children. Look up any license on the DCA License Search.
Ask who will treat your child. In California, a PT must do the first evaluation and any re-evaluations and set the plan; a licensed physical therapist assistant can then give treatment as the PT directs, and unlicensed aides can help only in the same facility as the supervising PT (PTBC).
Other questions worth asking:
- How many of your patients are children, and children with my child’s condition?
- Will my child see the same licensed PT each visit, one-on-one?
- Clinic, home or both? Home visits show the PT your child’s real space; clinics have equipment such as gait trainers.
- Do you offer serial casting, bracing or orthotic referrals, or intensive programs such as DMI, if we need them?
- What will we practice at home between visits?
- Are you in network with my plan, a regional center vendor, or CCS-paneled?
Who pays: insurance, Medi-Cal, Early Start and school
Depending on your child’s age and needs, any of these can cover PT:
- Health insurance. Plans differ on visit limits, referrals and prior authorization, so call before the first visit. Some practices check benefits for you; LA Orthopedic and Pediatric PT in Encino, for one, is in network with Blue Shield.
- Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal must cover medically necessary services for children under 21, under the federal EPSDT rule. Ask your child’s doctor to refer through your Medi-Cal plan; Recess in Arcadia says it takes commercial Medi-Cal plans.
- Early Start, birth to 3. Babies and toddlers with a delay of at least 25% in one area, an established risk condition, or high risk qualify through the regional center. Evaluation and service coordination are free; insurance is billed first for PT, and the regional center or school district provides what insurance doesn’t (DDS). Anyone can refer: 800-515-2229.
- Your school district, 3 and up. PT is a related service under special education law, provided free through an IEP when your child needs it to benefit from school (34 CFR 300.34). It centers on getting around campus and taking part at school; Kids in Motion in Torrance, for example, provides IEP physical therapy for six South Bay districts.
- Private pay. Two practices here post prices: Thérèse Willis charges $300 for an in-home evaluation and $150 a session, and SoCal Kids Physical Therapy charges $275 for an evaluation. Ask about superbills if you’ll file with insurance yourself, and about travel fees for home visits.
Free PT through California Children’s Services (CCS)
California Children’s Services is a state program, run in LA County by the Department of Public Health, for children under 21 with certain serious medical conditions. If your child has a physical disability, its Medical Therapy Program is worth knowing about (LA County CCS).
- What it is: PT and OT from CCS therapists at Medical Therapy Units (MTUs) on public school campuses. The county lists 23, from Palmdale to San Pedro, including Mar Vista, North Hollywood, Reseda, Glendale, Pasadena, Long Beach and Redondo Beach (MTU list).
- Who qualifies: children with physical disabilities whose condition meets the program’s own medical rules. These differ from regular CCS rules, so not every child covered by CCS qualifies for an MTU.
- Cost: none. MTU physical and occupational therapy is free whatever your family’s income (CCS FAQ).
- How it differs from school therapy: CCS treats your child’s medical condition; school therapy serves educational goals.
- How to start: anyone, including a parent, can refer a child. Ask your child’s doctor to send medical records, or call LA County CCS at 1-800-288-4584.
Outside the MTUs, CCS can also pay for treatment, including PT, for an eligible condition when the family qualifies financially: through Medi-Cal, an adjusted gross income under $40,000, or expected costs for the condition of 20% or more of income (eligibility). CCS pays after insurance and Medi-Cal.
Questions parents ask
What does a pediatric physical therapist do?
A pediatric PT evaluates how your child moves, then builds the strength, balance, coordination and flexibility needed for milestones like sitting, crawling, walking and jumping, or for getting back to sports after an injury. Sessions are built around play and your child’s interests, and you get exercises to do at home. Pediatric PTs also advise on equipment such as braces, orthotics and gait trainers.
How do I know if my child needs physical therapy?
Talk with your pediatrician if your baby always turns their head one way or has a flat spot, if rolling, sitting, crawling or walking seems late, if your toddler walks on their toes most of the time, or if your child falls a lot or can’t keep up physically. Several PTs on this list offer a free phone consultation. If your child is under 3, the regional center’s Early Start evaluation is free.
What happens at the first pediatric PT appointment?
It’s an evaluation; one South Bay PT on this list books 60 to 90 minutes for it. The PT asks about your child’s history and your goals, watches your child move and play, checks strength, flexibility, balance and walking, and may use standardized tests. You leave with a plan and exercises to start at home. Dress your child for movement and bring your insurance card, doctor’s notes, and any braces or orthotics.
Do I need a doctor’s referral for pediatric physical therapy?
Not to make the first call: you can phone practices directly, and anyone, including a parent, can refer a child to Early Start or CCS. Your insurance plan may need a doctor’s referral or prior authorization before it pays, so check. CCS needs your child’s doctor to request services, and CHLA’s PT department takes referrals by fax. One Long Beach practice lets parents book its baby check-in membership without a referral.
Does insurance or Medi-Cal cover pediatric physical therapy?
It can, when PT is medically necessary. Medi-Cal must cover medically necessary services for children under 21. Private plans differ on visit limits, referrals and authorization, so call yours first. Some practices on this list check benefits for you, and LA Orthopedic and Pediatric PT is in network with Blue Shield. For qualifying physical disabilities, CCS Medical Therapy Units give PT free at any income.
How much does pediatric physical therapy cost without insurance?
Few practices post prices. On this list, Thérèse Willis charges $300 for a 60- to 90-minute in-home evaluation with a written report and $150 per session in the South Bay, and SoCal Kids Physical Therapy in Long Beach charges $275 for an evaluation and $299 for a year of baby check-ins. Ask about packages, superbills and travel fees for home visits.
How we made this list
We ran seven web searches for pediatric physical therapy across Los Angeles County in October 2026 and read each practice’s own site. We kept practices whose pages show they treat children in LA County, and spread the list across hospitals, clinics and in-home therapists from the Westside and the Valley to the San Gabriel Valley, the South Bay and Long Beach. Every detail about a practice comes from its own pages; the rules on who pays come from the official sources below.
No one paid to be on it. It’s information to start from, not medical or legal advice: check services, costs and coverage with each provider before you book. Spotted something out of date, or run a place that belongs here? Write to hello@summerground.com.
Sources
- Becoming a physical therapist (American Physical Therapy Association)
- Board-certified pediatric clinical specialist (APTA Specialist Certification)
- Consumer FAQ: PTs, PT assistants and aides (Physical Therapy Board of California)
- License search, Physical Therapy Board (California DCA)
- California Children’s Services (LA County Department of Public Health)
- CCS eligibility and services FAQ, including Medical Therapy Units (LA County)
- CCS eligibility rules and fees (LA County)
- Medical Therapy Unit locations (LA County CCS)
- What is Early Start? (California Department of Developmental Services)
- Regional center eligibility (DDS)
- Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (Medicaid.gov)
- Related services, 34 CFR 300.34
- Free appropriate public education, 34 CFR 300.17
- FAPE from age 3 through 21, 34 CFR 300.101