Children/Paediatric Physiotherapy 8+yrs
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Physiotherapy for Children
Children and adolescents suffer from injuries through trauma or sports and general play. Young athletes will suffer acute, chronic, or overuse, injuries. It is very common for children to get injured and recover quickly and be back playing the sports or games they enjoy. Unfortunately, the injuries that children suffer from can be very different from an adult. This is because the immature skeletal system has not yet fully developed, thus the stress on a structure may cause trauma that it won't in an adult. Due to the effects of growth on the musculoskeletal system, children are at risk for injuries to the growth plate, apophysis, and joint surface. The growing body can also go through very quick changes over a relatively short period of time, thus can be more susceptible to injuries. It is important that adolescent injuries are treated early as they can have a significant impact on their future musculoskeletal health. It's observed that up to one-third of adolescents report MSK pain monthly or more, and the prevalence of MSK pain rises quickly from childhood to adolescence. This can be due to the quick musculoskeletal changes that occur during growth combined with physical activity volume.
Stuart Mailer is a member of the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists and has worked extensively with paediatrics from 8+ years and especially with adolescents in Tennis, Football, Athletics, and Dance, particularly those involved in high-level sports. He was the Clinical lead Physiotherapist at the Sutton Junior Tennis Academy for 10 years helping many of the worlds leading junior Tennis players. Furthermore, he spent 5 years with Chelsea FC working with the Academy and with Sutton District runners and dance groups. Due to this, he has a special interest in musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions affecting this very special age group.
Children Physiotherapy Common Ailments
There are many injuries a child may suffer from but here are some of the most common that we deal with in Paediatrics and a small selection of what we see.
Knee
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Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
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Patella maltracking/subluxation
Foot/Ankle
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Shin Splints ( Medial tibial stress syndrome)
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Tarsal coalition
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Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Back
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Discogenic Low back
Shoulder/Elbow /Wrist
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Little Leaguer’s Elbow (Medial Apophysitis)
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TFCC (wrist injury)
Children/Paediatric Physiotherapy Rehabilitation
When a growing child has an injury, rehabilitation is paramount to help a speedy recovery and prevent areas of weakness or lack of mobility that may cause problems later on in a child's development. Once an accurate diagnosis is made then a rehabilitation plan is formulated and undertaken.
This requires a very specific approach to ensure that the root cause of the problem is identified and not only the presenting pain. A thorough examination must be performed to ascertain this and then a specific paediatric rehabilitation plan implemented that considers the child's age, lifestyle, sporting interests and long-term physical endeavours.
Paediatric Rehabilitation can include a range of exercises to help address basic fundamental movements patterns and address the injury. This may be bodyweight exercises, Resistance Bands, Gym balls, External loads, Resistance equipment. This is also related to the sport and a progressive plan will be given with the sport in mind. If required we can liaise with Coaches to help in returning your child to the sport they enjoy safely and quickly.
Musculoskeletal Screening- Injury Prevention
With increased sports participation, it is important for children or youth athletes to undergo pre-participation examination, including musculoskeletal screening, Injury Prevention and functional performance testing to reduce the risk for future injuries. The ‘injury prevention through prediction’ approach aims to assess fundamental movement qualities in order to identify injury risk as reduced movement quality is suggestive of higher injury risk especially in youth athletes. Check out the Fifa 11+ injury prevention warm up. MSK screening or Injury Prevention screening is a selection of specific targeted tests of muscle strength. flexibility, joint mobility, core strength that are relevant to the sport the person is participating in. This is combined with functional testing to highlight factors predisposing an athlete to injury or a performance hindrance that can be highlighted and corrected. The use of specific tools and testing protocols such as the SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment) and FMS (Functional Movement Screen) may be used to help identify why an injury has presented and others.
What does it involve;
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60 mins detailed physical and functional examination in clinic.
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30 min follow up appointment to discuss findings.
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A detailed report that is written highlighting findings and proposal.
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Injury screening. Testing each joint and potential underlying injuries.
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Functional testing for lower limb agility, balance, stability and strength
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Core and spinal testing
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Exercise programme given
60 mins
Paediatric Injury Prevention Screening & Report
Solemaids
Relieves heel pain so kids can stay in the game
Sever’s disease is one of the most common causes of heel pain in growing children and teenagers from 8-14 years. old. Solemaids are specially designed orthotics for this condition.
We are the first clinic in Scotland to use Solemaids so if your child has heel pain let's keep them active and not be sidelined.
4 Tips to help prevent children's sport injuries
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Children should play a variety of sports. The evidence demonstrates that kids who play more sports rather than one only have fewer injuries.
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Incorporate good warm-up habits and cool-down habits with children - Fifa 11+ is a great example.
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Keep mobility and stability up - practice balance exercises and stretching.
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Give children the time off sport- even a week of offloading or less sport can help the body recover, rejuvenate and prevent injury in the long term
Start your childs road to recovery here
Orthopaedic Paediatric
Consultant
When working with children there should always be a team-based approach. I highly recommend the leading Orthopaedic consultant for Paediatrics and Adolescents Mr Mark Gaston.