CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS
PAEDIATRICS
PAEDIATRICS
Sport and exercise should be fun for children and teenagers of all ages. Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in sports-related injuries in this age group, and sometimes quite significant ones. At Total Physiotherapy, we understand the importance of all children and teenagers being able to enjoy sport with as little risk of injury as possible. We ensure the skills and knowledge of our Physiotherapists are up-to-date, will identify risk factors for injury and comprehensively treat injuries in this age group. We also believe prevention is key, and education is a vital part of this.
Common Injuries
General Sports Injuries
Just like adults, children and adolescents are susceptible to regular sports injuries that can be treated and rehabilitated by a physiotherapist - strains, sprains, fractures. The good news is children bounce back quicker with the right advice!
Growing Related Injuries
Growing aches and pains can happen throughout the youthful years. Physiotherapists can assist with pain relief by working on flexibility and strength to support the growing bones and joints.
Severs Disease
This condition is one of the common sources of heel pain reported in children and adolescents. It is a condition aecting the growth plate located at the heel, and usually settles over time. Although there is no "cure" for Sever's disease, physiotherapy is known to manage painful symptoms whilst ensuring the patient stays active from as young as possible. Your physiotherapist will create an individualised program focused on lengthening the calf muscles attached to the Achilles Tendon, which will then be built into a strengthening program depending on the client goals. To find out more, have a look at our blog post on Severs Disease.
Osgood Schlatter’s Disease
This condition is more common in young boys. It is a swelling and irritation at the growth plate at the top of the shin bone, and is most commonly seen in children/adolescents participating in sports where this is highly repetitive sprinting and jumping. It can be managed with physiotherapy with taping/strapping techniques, re-education on jumping and landing and strength and stability exercises.
Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
Commonly known as "runner's knee", this injury is usually caused by overuse/overload, weakness of the quadricep muscles, or an issue with the way the kneecap moves during certain activities such as squatting. Pain is felt at the front of the knee in the region of the kneecap and it usually feels worse in prolonged sitting and going down the stairs. Physiotherapy works on improving knee control by strengthening the muscles in the leg and releasing tight muscles effecting kneecap mobility.
Shin Splints
This condition refers to the pain felt in the inner part of the shin. This is another overuse injury that mainly occurs as a result of highly intense exercises or training sessions involving repetitive activity. It can be effected by footwear, running terrain and strength of the ankles/lower limb.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
There is an increasing rate in kids/adolescents acquiring an anterior crucial ligament (ACL) injury, which occurs either from a twisting mechanism, a "funny" landing on the feet, or a sudden change in direction in which the transfer of body weight applied a pivoting motion on the knee. See our ACL rehabilitation page for more info about the condition and management.
Concussion
Concussions are a very serious injury and is most common in kids and adolescents than in adults. Concussions refer to a disturbance in normal brain function, with symptoms including dizziness, nausea, confusion, fatigue and memory loss. Monitoring symptoms of concussion and a gradual return to exercise/sport/activity is the primary aim of the physiotherapist. Especially being that there is a high reoccurrence rate in children under the age of 10. For more on Concussion, read our Concussion Management page.