Paediatric Physiotherapy
Paediatric Sports Physiotherapy
Canadian researchers report that 84 percent kids between the ages of 3-17 are participating in some type of sport and 60 percent are doing it on an organized basis. It is also estimated that 66% of injuries among adolescents are due to sport
There are special considerations for the paediatric athlete including:
- Implementing strategies to avoid excess strain to growth plates (epiphyseal plate injuries)
- Being cognizant of accelerated growth spurts and the impact on the skeletal and muscular systems
- Considering core stability of the lumbar spine and pelvis based on age and development
- Determining extensibility of the myofacsial system, whether hypermobile (excessively flexible) or hypomobile (decreased flexibility)
- Identifying relative injury risk based on sport participation and level of competition.
When to consult a physiotherapist
- To implement a sport specific strength and conditioning program tailored to your child’s needs to mitigate injury risk.
- To perform a globalized range of motion/flexibility assessment to determine areas of vulnerability for injury.
- For physiotherapy following a traumatic injury such as a sprain or a fracture
- To assess areas of pain in order to identify overuse injuries early.
Common injuries in children
- Jumper’s knee patellar tendonitis
- Little League Elbow/Shoulder (common in overhead throwing athletes)
- Sever’s Disease
- Swimmer’s Shoulder (rotator cuff tendonosis)
- Shin Splints
