Carolyn Clay article
MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SPORTING INJURIES IN CHILDREN.
Children and adolescents suffer from a unique set of injuries. The child should NOT be classed as a mini adult, as the immature, developing skeleton contains growth tissue that is not present in the adult. By definition adults cannot have injuries to growth tissues, as the skeleton has matured and ossified.
Growth tissues represent sites of weakness especially when they are metabolically active. Conditions and injuries to the growth tissues are generally classified as osteochondroses. The injury site can be at the growth plates (physeal plates) or cartilaginous tendon insertion (apophyses or traction epiphyses).
The treatment of these injuries is not covered on the undergraduate physiotherapy training courses so it is of vital importance that the physiotherapist you seek advice and treatment from is someone who has completed specific and specialised post graduate training in this field. Providing the correct management to a child or adolescent is a major priority. Missed or incorrect diagnosis and treatment can have long term serious consequences. It may adversely affect a child’s development and thus their physical and sporting potential.
In practise, many of the children seeking treatment with musculoskeletal or sporting pathologies do not require many sessions. The majority require a thorough assessment, diagnosis and advice regarding their injury and returning to training and competition.
As a rough guideline The Branches Physiotherapy Clinic applies a 3 WEEK RULE. Through experience we recognise that the majority of children do not require any medical intervention. General basic advice usually resolves a lot of presenting issues.
However, if the child or adolescent has had symptoms, that are not resolving, and the symptoms have been evident for 3 weeks or more, immediate medical advice is required. That is not to say you must wait 3 weeks before getting an opinion - you know your child, athlete or player. ALWAYS seek a medical opinion if you are unsure…..they are children.
From:
Carolyn Clay MCSP
REGISTERED WITH THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS COUNCIL
C/o Shaw Lane Sports Facility, Shaw Lane Barnsley S70 6HZ
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