Conditions affecting bones, joints and the tissues around them are described as ‘musculo-skeletal’ or ‘orthopaedic’.

Because there are many physiological and anatomical differences between children and adults, children require a specialised approach to their orthopaedic management. The physiotherapists at KidsPhysio always consider these differences when assessing and treating children.

Some of the more common musculo-skeletal problems that affect children and teenagers include:

Trauma injuries: For example fractures, sprains or strains resulting from sports, falls, car accidents and other injuries.

• When children’s bones break they look similar to a broken green branch from a tree, hence the name "greenstick fractures". Adults bones tend to have a well-defined break. The bones of children and young adolescents contain "growing zones" called growth plates or epiphyses. Special care needs to be taken if the fracture site is near to one of these growth plates. Children often need physiotherapy after breaking a bone to help to restore mobility and strength to the affected limb.
• Strains occur when a muscle is over-stretched, often following inadequate warming up before sport or if the muscle is not used to a particular activity.
• Sprains are an overstretching or a partial tear of the ligaments or tendons, and are usually the result of an injury, such as twisting an ankle or knee.

Gait problems: When children first start walking they will often walk on their toes or with their feet turned in. This is quite normal, but usually improves by the time they are 6 or 7. Sometimes, as children grow, they develop an uneven walking pattern which can be improved with physiotherapy.

Flat Feet are feet with a flattened arch. Flat feet can contribute to other problems such as knee and hip pain and balance difficulties.

Scoliosis is a name given to an abnormal ‘s’ shaped curve of the spine.

Talipes is also called ‘club foot’. The ligaments and tendons around the foot and ankle are tight when the baby is born, making the foot stiff to move. Physiotherapy stretches can help to restore the movement in the foot.

Erbs Palsy is also known as Brachial Plexus Paralysis. The primary nerves, that supply the movement and sensation to the arm, are partially or completely paralysed causing weakness and limitation in movement. Physiotherapy helps to maximise the range of movement, strength and function of the affected arm.

Torticollis or ‘Wry Neck’, describes a condition where a tight sterno-mastoid muscle in one side of the neck limits a child’s neck movements. Positioning and physiotherapy stretches can help to gain full neck movements.

Hypermobility describes when a child has an increased range of movement in joints.

Arthritis is a disease involving the immune system. It causes inflammation of joints, causing weakness and stiffness.

Knee Problems are common in adolescents. Osgood-Schlatter disease is an inflammation of the bone, cartilage, and/or tendon at the top of the shinbone. Chondromalacia Patella is characterised by pain under the knee cap.

Growing Pains are pains, generally in children’s or adolescent’s legs, often attributed to rapid growth.

The physiotherapy team at KidsPhysio can provide a full assessment for your child or teenager, and a range of treatments to suit each individual’s needs.