Pediatric Physiotherapy can help with general injuries, sports related injuries, and age- or growth-related conditions in school-aged children and teenagers.
Some conditions that our Pediatric Physiotherapists can treat in adolescents are:
- General Injuries or Sport Related Injuries (Ex. fractures, dislocations, post-surgical, muscle strains, etc.) Learn more
- Concussion Learn more
- Growth Related Difficulties (Ex. growing pains, Sever’s Disease, Osgood Schlatter’s) Learn more
- Other Conditions (Ex. Scoliosis).
General Injuries or Sports Related Injuries
It is important to address injuries in childhood and adolescence to help decrease compensatory patterns as we age. If we can rehabilitate these injuries at a young age, we can keep your child or teen’s body moving efficiently over time. If your child or teen has an injury or complaint, Pediatric Physiotherapy can treat these concerns with soft tissue work, modalities, and exercises.
Pediatric Concussion
A concussion is defined as a mild traumatic brain injury caused by either a direct blow to the head or a whiplash related mechanism. The rapid movement of the head causes the brain to move around or twist within the skull. Ultimately, this injury creates temporary chemical changes in the brain and if goes untreated may lead to long term problems. Anyone can sustain a concussion and experience associated symptoms such as, but not limited to, headache, dizziness, confusion, difficulty remembering, fogginess, and sensitivity to light.
A concussion within the first few days and weeks (acute concussion) requires specific assessment and management. When concussion symptoms last longer than 4 weeks in adolescents it is considered Post Concussion Syndrome. Even though a concussion can be treated at any point within the healing process, we encourage you to be assessed as soon as possible for optimal recovery.
Treatment
After the completion of an assessment, the patient and parent will be thoroughly educated to ensure full comprehension of proper management of their concussion at home. During one on one management, the patient can expect more specific treatment to target associated symptoms. This could include vestibular and ocular retraining, manual therapy to focus on cervical soft tissue and exercise training. The therapists will give guidance on returning to daily activities, school and sports. To ensure a safe return, the patient will be guided through gradual Return to Sport and Learn protocols.
Growth Related Difficulties
Children may experience a range of growth-related difficulties that can impact their physical development and well-being. Some common conditions we treat are:
- Posture
- Growing pains (aching most commonly in the legs)
- Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease
- A common condition that affects the knee area, particularly in physically active children involved in activities like running and jumping. It results in pain and swelling just below the knee.
- Sever’s Disease
- A condition affecting the heel, typically seen in children who engage in sports involving running and jumping. This condition occurs when the growth plate in the heel becomes inflamed, leading to discomfort and tenderness.
- Coordination issues
- If your child is complaining of pain in these areas, our Pediatric Physiotherapists can help with exercises and education to help decrease pain and improve function!
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