by 
The Curious Bag
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A neonatal physical therapist is someone who works with babies that have been born prematurely with issues such as birth defects, developmental problems or who were injured during birth.
Function
The neonatal physical therapist checks the baby's motor skills and exams the baby's muscle tone and other developmental issues.
Considerations
To become a neonatal physical therapist you need to complete a master's degree in pediatric physical therapy. In many cases, neonatal physical therapy is a sub-specialty.
Effects
He or she works closely with parents to develop a plan to help the baby develop. This could include muscle stimulation and exercise to help with the joints.
Time Frame
Once the baby is released from the hospital, the neonatal physical therapist continues to work with the newborn on any continual therapy that is still needed during the child's early development.
Considerations
If your baby is born prematurely, a neonatal physical therapist is just one of many people you will work with. Others include your doctor, nurses and a neonatologist, someone who studies the development and disorders of newborn children.
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