Tag Archives: pediatric physiotherapy

Pediatric physiotherapy, Physiotherapy, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy

Physio for Kids: How to Avoid Injury as School Sports Start

The new school year has started and our children are excitedly starting up their intramurals, school sports team, gym classes and more. Whether your child is jumping into soccer, cross-country, basketball, or something else, we have to take caution when transitioning from spending summer on the couch to intensive practice.

Autumn always marks an increase in young athletes in the clinic with conditions like muscle strains, Osgoode Schlatter’s, shin splints, or others. Taking your child to a specialist in Pediatric Physiotherapy can help keep them healthy and pain free prior to an injury. Otherwise, a Physiotherapist can help them recover from an injury and prevent a future one.

Why do injuries increase early in the season?

Our children go from a fairly unstructured summer to suddenly intense sports and training several times a week. When combined with the fact that our children’s bodies are still developing, this abrupt transition triggers overuse injuries. Their growth spurts and still maturing bones make them more vulnerable to these types of injuries.

What kind of injuries are common with school sports?

The start of a sprint is a common area for injury where the muscles have to act explosively.

The type of injury your child will be vulnerable to is dependent on the sport the play. For the most part, lower extremity injuries are more common since most sports involve running and jumping repetitively.

  • Acute muscle strains: Hamstring, quad, groin and calf strains are very common from sprinting and jumping without proper warmup or strengthening
  • Shin splints: Inflammation caused by repeated hard impacts in muscle and bone along the shin area
  • Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Knee pain where the tendon below the knee cap attaches to the lower leg. Often see an enlarged and painful bump below the knee
  • Sever’s Disease: Heel pain caused by repetitive pulling from the Achilles
  • Tendonitis: Usually in the patellar tendon (Jumper’s Knee), Achilles tendon, and rotator cuff for swimmers, throwing sports, and volleyball players

How can I help my child prevent injury in their sports?

  1. Build up training loads over time

Some teams will give your child a strength and conditioning program to follow over the summer break. If not, you can make your own! Think about the demands that the sport has ex. running vs throwing vs jumping and have them practice some of these skills. Try to set up drills or easy bodyweight exercises at home, like shuttle runs or lunges, so that their bodies do not decondition over the summer.

2. Dynamic warm ups before activity

Teach your child the importance of a good warm up and how to perform one. Static stretching is not recommended before exercise as it can negatively affect performance. Instead, try things like:

  • High knees and butt kick runs
  • Walking lunges
  • Shuffles
  • Skipping

3. Replace worn out gear

Last season’s gear might not fit well anymore, especially if your child is growing quickly. Improperly fitting or worn out gear can greatly increase the risk of injury. Do an inspection before sending them back and help them break the new gear in to make the transition easier.

4. Proper rest and recovery

Young athletes need at least 8 hours of sleep per night, potentially up to 10 for optimal recovery. Ensure that they are eating and drinking enough to replenish lost nutrients and support muscular recovery. There is no shame in having them sit out for a bit to recover, the pros have to do the same thing! Let your child know that they can tell you about any discomforts or pains they have, and that it’s easier to fix them earlier on than later.

How can pediatric physiotherapy help my child succeed?

A ph

A common misunderstanding is that Physiotherapy is ONLY for injuries and ONLY exercises. This is not true! A well-rounded Pediatric Physiotherapy program will consist of recovery tools (think heat, ice, manual therapy techniques, foam rolling, stretching) and active exercises (strengthening, sport drills etc).

Additionally, many athletes come for what is known as “prehab” or prerehabilitation. This is a preventative method of exercise that protects athlete’s joints and muscles from injury through a preemptive strengthening program. This can greatly reduce the severity of any injuries and also prevent them from occurring at all.

For example, if your child is a basketball player, they can proactively strengthen their knee and calf muscles and tendons with specific Physiotherapy exercises. Physiotherapy can also assess for biomechanics, how your child runs, jumps, and lands, and correct any faulty movement patterns that may predispose them to injury. For example, letting the knees cave in while jumping and landing can put a lot of pressure on structures in the knee. Teaching a more efficient form ensures the longevity of the joints.

Looking for more information about physio for kids?

Look for PhysioNow! We offer Pediatric Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Treatment with expert clinicians. We have 10 locations across the West GTA including Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and Etobicoke. Help your children stay in great shape throughout the season! Book with PhysioNow today for your first Pediatric Physiotherapy assessment and treatment!

Ergonomics, neck pain, Pediatric physiotherapy, Physiotherapy, Posture

Pediatric Physiotherapy: Tech Neck and Posture

Leaning over a desk doing homework or studying puts a lot of pressure on the muscles and joints at the back of the neck.

Maybe you’ve noticed that your child spends a lot of time hunched over their homework or leaning forwards at their computer. You may have noticed them rubbing their neck or complaining about soreness. This is a very common phenomenon in both adults and children, and has been becoming known more and more as “tech neck”.

This refers to the slouched and forward head posture many people take when looking at their laptops, phones, or reading something in front of them. In this blog, we’ll go over how this pain happens, some postural tips, and postural muscles exercise to help keep your child pain free!

Is tech neck bad?

Girl doing homework with a head bent forwards position, illustrating the types of posture commonly seen and ones that can lead to pain developing

While the posture by itself isn’t bad, we all slouch sometimes, persistent slouching can lead to neck stiffness, upper back pain, and even tension headaches.

The tech neck posture tends to overuse the muscles of the upper neck. As the back and lower neck fall forwards, to keep things in view they must often crank their neck up, stressing the upper neck muscles greatly. On the other hand, the other muscles become overstretched, or overly tight and weakened leading to an imbalance in the body.

Over time, they may find that they’re no longer able to sit in an upright posture as the muscles fatigue too quickly.

The ideal ergonomic setup for your child’s desk

While our muscle strength plays a big part, so too does the working setup. The key tips include:

  1. Chair: When sitting, their feet should be flat on the floor or if unable, on a foot stool
  2. Screen: The first line of text should be in line with your child’s eye line. If they use a tablet or laptop, consider getting them a desktop monitor to connect to or lifting it with a stand.
  3. Back support: Ensure that your child has a proper comfortable chair that promotes natural curves in the lower back. They should not be doing their homework slouched into the couch or bent over the dining room table
  4. Movement breaks: Every 30 minutes ideally, they should take 1-2 minute stretch break to prevent stiffness
  5. Other modifications: Consider other tools likes standing desks, an ergonomic mouse, wrist rests, and more. These may be more relevant to older children who have to spend a lot more time completing assignments on computers.

3 postural exercises to combat slouching

We’ve prepared 3 easy to do exercises at home to help break up your child’s computer and desk time. Specifically, they require no specialized equipment and help to release built up muscle tension.

  1. Doorway stretch: Using a door frame, place the hand on the wall and gently lean forwards until you feel a stretch in the chest/pec muscles.
  2. Chin tucks: Sitting or standing, bring the head directly backwards almost like making a double chin motion, or a turtle retreating into its shell.
  3. Thoracic extension over the back of the chair: Use your hands to support your neck. Use the back of the chair as a support to bend over and extend the spine.

Persistent pain or tech neck? Try pediatric physiotherapy!

Pediatric physiotherapy is specialized towards treating the younger population. Oftentimes, children’s needs are different from an adults and sometimes their body’s respond in different ways as well. In a pediatric physiotherapy assessment, you are encouraged to be a part of your child’s session, as it is important for everyone to be informed. A pediatric physiotherapy will assess how your child moves, their strength, balance, and flexibility, and come up with a personalised plan to resolve their issue!

If neck and back pain are the primary issues, a session will include a postural assessment, education on ergonomics and setup, manual therapy to help relieve tight muscles and stiff joints, and an exercise plan to strengthen and stretch as needed.

Does your child have neck pain or is worried about their posture?

Look for PhysioNow! We have expert pediatric physiotherapists ready to help you and your child. There are 10 locations across the West GTA including Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga and Etobicoke. Also, we offer extended evening hours and Saturday times to best fit into your schedule. Don’t let the pain develop into something worse, get it treated today! Book with PhysioNow for your child’s first assessment and treatment!

Back Pain, neck pain, Neck strain, Pediatric physiotherapy, Physiotherapy, Posture, Shoulder pain

Neck, Back, and Shoulder Pain From Backpacks? Advice from Physiotherapy

As our children head back to school, the backpack becomes a source of many complaints. Filled to the brim with textbooks, water bottles, laptops, and lunches, backpacks can put a lot of stress on the neck, shoulders and back. As Physiotherapists, it is a common issue we see causing postural fatigue and spinal strain. Thankfully, it can easily be alleviated through treatment and some modifications. Here’s what you and your child should know about backpacks and how to resolve their pain.

Can backpacks affect their posture?

Woman demonstrating forward head posture, with the chin poking forwards, increased kyphosis and the shoulders rounded
An example of forward head posture.

While our children are still growing and their bodies are adapting, they can experience many of the same muscle aches and postural dysfunctions that adults can. When a backpack is too heavy or worn improperly, it can lead to postural compensations such as:

  • Forward head posture
  • Rounded shoulders
  • Increased lordosis (lower back arching)
  • Asymmetry into the spine (temporary, not scoliosis but can mimic it)

While these effects start off as just temporary, with continued wear throughout the year, they can develop into pain and persistent postural habits.

What should we look for in a backpack?

Showing different styles and colours of bags
And of course, the most important aspect is that your child likes the style and colour!
  • Correct size: Bigger is not always the best. An oversized backpack can lead to improper weight distribution. The bottom of the backpack should never be more than 4 inches below the waistline. Generally, it should fit from just below the shoulders to about the waist level.
  • Padding: Padding along the straps and the back will increase comfort. The back should stay as close to your child’s back as possible to minimize the amount of weight they feel dragging them down
  • Waist belt and/or chest strap: These are some of the best weight distribution tools to have. There is a reason hiking backpacks all have straps. When all of the weight hangs just on the shoulders, it’s a quick journey to pain from overuse. These let the weight rest more across the chest or hips, giving the shoulders a break
  • Compartments: This will help you pack their items in an ergonomic fashion. Having too much weight on one side of the bag can really affect how it feels to wear, biasing one shoulder. Try to spread it out as evenly as possible
  • Rolling backpack (optional): For some, the best option may be to just offload the back completely and go for a rolling backpack with a handle (similar to a suitcase).

How do I know if their bag is too heavy and causing backpack pain?

Recommendations from pediatric organisations state that the backpack weight should be no more than 10-15% of your child’s body weight. Additionally, if they have to lean forwards to support the weight of the backpack, whether they’re bending from the waist or hunching forwards, the backpack is too heavy. Either that, or the straps need to be adjusted to bring the backpack closer to the body. Finally, listen to your child! They will speak if they are experiencing discomfort, and it’s always easier to fix a problem earlier on.

Over time, these compensations can cause musculoskeletal issues including neck, back or shoulder pain, strains, spasms, and stiffness. Combined with the often forwards leaning posture in schools when studying, writing, and reading, these pains are quite common in the student population.

How can physiotherapy help with backpack pain?

Physiotherapists are experts at relieving tight muscles, restoring mobility, and strengthening the body. Your Physiotherapist can perform an assessment to determine the cause of your child’s pain and create an individualise plan to help them recover. An example of some treatments can include:

  • Manual therapy – including soft tissue release, massage techniques, joint mobilizations and more
  • Postural exercises
  • Muscular strengthening
  • Mobility exercises
  • Education on ergonomics
  • Backpack fittings

For example, some great postural exercises to do are called chin tucks. These help to reverse the forward head posture that we spend a lot of time in, keeping the head aligned with the spine. They are a great mobility and strength exercises for the neck.

Is your child asking for help with neck, back, or shoulder pain?

Look for PhysioNow! We offer pediatric physiotherapy across all stages of youth from newborn to adolescence. Don’t let your child’s pain get in their way of school, sports, and extracurriculars, book their first assessment and treatment with PhysioNow today! We offer 1 on 1 treatment at 10 locations across the west GTA including Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and Etobicoke!

    Knee Pain, Pediatric physiotherapy, Physiotherapy, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy

    Osgood Schlatter’s: My Kid Has Knee Pain!

    Is your kid complaining about a persistent knee pain under their knee? Does it bother them the most after physical activity, especially basketball, volleyball, soccer player or other sport? If so, they might be dealing with a condition called Osgood Schlatter’s Disease. Dont’ worry, it sounds scary but it’s very common and manageable with Physiotherapy!

    What is Osgood Schlatter’s?

    To put it in simple terms, Osgoode Schlatter’s is the inflammation of a part of the tibia (shin bone), right where the tendon attaches. Repetitive and high force contraction of the tendon puts pressure on the growth plate, causing irritation over time. Eventually, it can even cause a prominent bony bump to form where the tendon attaches.

    It is most frequent in young athletes, especially boys, from around 10-15 years of age, but can certainly happen in girls as well. It is more likely to happen after growth spurts and with highly active individuals. The more intense the sport is, with running, jumping and sprinting, the more likely they are to develop this condition.

    What are the signs and symptoms for it?

    • Pain at the front of the knee, tender to the touch
    • May have swelling at the front of the knee
    • Worse with activity
    • Worst with running, jumping, kneeling, squatting
    • Enlarged prominence may be present at front of knee

    What is the treatment for Osgood-Schlatter?

    Thankfully, research shows that most Osgood-Schlatter cases are self-limiting, which means that it will resolve itself over time. However, this time can be quite long (months) and painful, especially if not managed correctly. In some cases, daily activities such as stairs can be quite sore, and they may have to take an extended break from their sport if their symptoms are severe.

    As a result, Physiotherapy is highly recommended so that your child can experience the smoothest process for recovery and the fewest limitations to their daily life and physical activities. The goal of physiotherapy is to help you understand the condition, how to avoid flaring it up, strengthen the muscles, and correct movement patterns that can exacerbate the condition. Next, we’ll go through the common Physiotherapy treatments in more detail:

    Pain Control

    Obviously, one of the most important things to you and your child is how to manage the pain. Immediate treatment for pain can include use of heat, ice and NSAIDs. Based on your symptoms, your Physiotherapist will recommend a plan of action including relative rest and activity modifications. They will try to have you participate in as much as possible without making your condition worse. You may still be able to play some sports, but have to take more rests or not play as hard. Manual therapy and massage techniques may be used to help alleviate pain.

    Exercise Plan

    Poor flexibility can be a predisposing factor to this issue. Tight quadriceps can increase the tension of the tendon on the bony area, worsening the irritation. Your Physiotherapist can teach you specific stretches to target the affected areas. Additionally, strengthening the hips, knee, and core are all beneficial. Weakness in one area can produce compensations in others, increasing the risk of overuse and injury over time. Your Physiotherapist will help you put together a comprehensive program to address your individual weaknesses and how to progress exercises safely.

    Teaching proper movement patterns

    Improper form such as in a squat, or taking off and landing from a jump can put extra stress on an area. Doing a biomechanical assessment can be helpful to catch any predisposing factors and ultimately, lessen the load on the knee. Your Physiotherapist will look at the common moves in your sport, and give you specific drills and cues to help you adapt.

    Looking for help with knee pain?

    Look for PhysioNow! We have 10 clinics across the West GTA including Burlington, Mississauga, Oakville, and Etobicoke. We have late evening hours and Saturday hours available to help you and your children find the times that they need. Don’t let your pain continue to worsen, get help today! Book with PhysioNow for your first assessment and treatment!

    Neurological, Pediatric physiotherapy, Physiotherapy

    Pediatric Physiotherapy: How It Can Help You and Your Family

    Pediatric Physiotherapy is a specialization that focuses on infants, and children. It is widely recognized that the bodies and brains of our children are vastly different than an adults. From the way they learn, heal, and constantly are developing, we need to treat them differently as well. While the average sports injuries, strains, sprains, fractures and more are all still present in this age group, there are also unique conditions that are managed by pediatric physiotherapists. In this blog, we will discuss the more specialized situations that are unique to a pediatric population, and how Pediatric Physiotherapy is uniquely configured to address it.

    Why do children need pediatric physiotherapy?

    When a baby is born most of their physical function is controlled by a bunch of reflex systems that are more dominated from their spinal cord level, called “spinal reflexes’’, and not from their brain. Babies Brains are not developed during the time of birth. Hence, these reflexes are temporarily present to protect them. As the child grows these reflexes integrate and their brain starts developing more refined movements which are then controlled by the mature brain.

    While a baby is growing it’s very important to help them get through this phase so their brain develops normally and they are functional to the best of their capacity. Some children take longer to get into this and some may not be able to get the full potential due to various medical reasons.

    What is special about pediatric physiotherapy?

    Pediatric Physiotherapy will teach guardians how to be involved in their little one’s care. Exercises may look and feel like play for kids, which is important for keeping them engaged. Each exercise will be designed to target a specific motor development skill or goal

    Pediatric physiotherapy is a very unique way of helping small infants and children. To specify, it facilitates gross motor development and provide support to guardians through a family-centered approach to treatment. “A Family Centered Approach” means where a child and family are an important part of the team. They are present at each session, actively participate and help facilitate treatment goals and plans of care based on their individual needs and requirements.

    What happens in a session?

    A trained Physiotherapist is able to determine what motor skills are missing in normal growth by conducting a thorough pediatric assessment. Afterwards, based on their findings, they will create a program that will help the child to achieve this milestone.

    For example, baby’s should develop the ability to sit with support around 6 months, and unsupported by 9 months old. However, keep in mind these are just general rules of thumb and individual variation is to be expected.

    Milestones are considered a very important landmark in a child’s development. This is a time sensitive phase where a set time determines when a child should develop certain skills. For example, a healthy baby is able to sit with support by 6 months and is able to hold and transfer objects from one hand to another by 9 months. Sometimes this might change and it could take longer and your physiotherapist can determine whether it’s normal or not normal by having a close look at their movement patterns. Remember, child development is not just about learning how to move, rather it’s also about observing if they are able to hear and listen to sounds. If they have a hearing problem it has to be addressed quickly as listening and hearing helps them to talk, and plays a major role in helping them learning motor skills.

    As babies grow, they may have certain problems even if they have grown fully and normally. At times they regress back suddenly and are not able to do things they were doing before. There are various reasons why this happens, but the main cause is due to sudden brain damage. In children the most common cause for this is having a intense fever due to seizures or any kind of infection. This high body temperature due to infections and seizures causes their developing brain to regress back. Hence its very important to be careful when a child develops a fever.

    What kind of conditions can be treated in Pediatric Physiotherapy?

    Some of the common conditions that require a pediatric physiotherapist consultation and treatment plan are as below:

    1. Down syndrome: Genetic condition, low muscle tone leading to delayed development 
    2. General delayed milestone: Normal development but slower than a normal child would be
    3. Neonatal abstinence syndrome: A child born with drug and substance withdrawal due to maternal use during pregnancy
    4. Cerebral palsy: There are different types, impaired motor development due to high muscle tone
    5. After Botox therapy: Botox is injected to the muscle group to decrease the muscle tone and help walking, especially in children with cerebral palsy
    6. Autism Spectrum Disorder: issues with sensory processing and tippy toe walking
    7. Hip dysplasia: Issues with hip clicking that can cause a lot of pain during activity

    Looking for more information?

    If you are concerned with your child with any of the above, if your newborn was in an ICU for a very long time, or if your baby was born very early (prematurely), please give a call for a short consultation. We are here to help and answer all your questions. Currently, Pediatric Physiotherapy services are offered with Bimala Odari at the PhysioNow Oakville North and Credit-View Bristol locations. We offer private treatment rooms and specialized equipment for each pediatric appointment.


    Please reach out to us at Physio Now at our central line 289-724-0448, or email oakvillenorth@physionow.ca creditview@physionow.ca for more information.

    Blog post written by Bimala Odari (BPT, MPT) (Pediatric), Registered Physiotherapist 

    Pediatric physiotherapy, Physiotherapy, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy

    Safe Play: Physiotherapy for Kid’s Sports Injuries

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    Physiotherapy for kid’s sports injuries is becoming more and more relevant. Recently, we have seen that children and teenagers are becoming more active than ever. Whether it’s taking part at the level of competitive, clubs, camps, or recreational activities, most children are involved in some way. As we know, physical activities are great for their physical, mental and overall development. However, it also puts them at risk of certain injuries. As a child’s bones, muscles, and ligaments are still growing and developing, this makes them vulnerable to certain injuries that can be different from adults. Sports physiotherapy plays a vital role in helping young athletes recover fast, return to sport safely, and prevent future injuries.

    What are common sports injuries in children and teenagers?

    Concussions are traumatic head injuries are very common in contact sports, and an increasingly large body of research continues to support how serious these types of injuries are
    • Sprains and strains: Ligament sprains or muscle strains are seen commonly in kids who play competitive or fast paced sports with sudden changes in direction, starting, and stopping
    • Growth plate injuries: In children their bones are not completely developed. At the end of long bones is where we find growth plates, which are softer than matured bones. As a result, they are more vulnerable to injury, whether it is from a trauma or repetitive stresses
    • Overuse injuries: Repetitive stress from the sports can leads to injuries such as stress fractures, shin splints, and tendinitis
    • Fractures: Falls or collisions can cause breaks that require immobilization and careful rehabilitation
    • Concussions or neck injuries: In some contact sports kids get injuries to their head and neck which might require medical attention and specialized concussion rehabilitation

    How does physiotherapy help kids sports injuries?

    For young children, physiotherapy looks a little more fun! Oftentimes, the exercises will incorporate games or fun activities to help keep them involved.

    1. Accurate assessment and individualized care: 

          A Physiotherapist who has experience and expertise with kids can help you by assessing the nature of the injuries. They will create an individualized plan after taking into account age, growth stage, and the type and level of sport they have to return to. They collaborate and coordinate with the team including parents, coaches, and other medical professional.

          2. Pain relief and early management

          Initially, the focus is to reduce the pain and inflammation using a combination of resting, icing, modalities like therapeutic ultrasound, or immobilization using braces or splints. Your Physiotherapist can help you plan out modifications so your kid can still participate in school and day to day activity safely, while protecting the injured area. 

          3. Restoring mobility and strength

          Afterwards, once pain and swelling reduces, the focus of the treatment shifts to gaining the range of motion, flexibility and strength of the injured and surrounding structure. In kids, rather than performing traditional ways of exercises the exercises are designed to be fun, age-appropriate and sports related. Overall, this helps to keep them motivated and take an active role in their own recovery.

          4. Preventing re-injury

          While treating your child’s injured and painful area, the Physiotherapist will also address the causes of pain which leads to this issue. Sometimes it can be from a muscle imbalance, training error or poor form during movement. They help your child create a comprehensive exercise routine for you involving a proper warm up, mobility, balance, and strengthening work, and finally may recommend specific drills related to your sport.

          5. Gradual return to play

          Returning to sport too soon is a major cause of re-injury. A physiotherapist monitors progress and gradually increases intensity in training, mimicking sport movements to ensure the child is ready for full participation. Then, they will coordinate with the coaches to slowly permit back to play.

          6. Education for parents and coaches

          Parents and coaches play important parts in the recovery process. A physiotherapist will update them about progress and current restrictions. Additionally, they will educate them about appropriate footwear, training intensity and loading and motivating strategies for kids. For example, it is important that both your child and you understand the signs and symptoms of worsening symptoms when starting return to play, so that you may catch and prevent a potential injury early.

          Benefits of “prehab” and physiotherapy for young athletes

          Preventing an injury is the ideal situation. Because of this, the idea of “prehabilitation” or “prehab” for short focuses on assessing potential risks for an athlete and minimizing them. For example, this could be a young athlete who a Physiotherapist notices relies more on one side over the other, or performs a movement with poor form. Early coaching and addressing these issues can prevent or lessen the impact of an injury farther down the line. Assessment and treatment at early stage can help to reduce recovery time and complications. Early physiotherapy management can help to prevent future complications like chronic pains, poor movements and damage to growing bones and muscles 

          Physiotherapy is not just for adults; it plays part in different age group people’s life. For young athletes, it can mean the difference between a minor setback and a long-term problem. With a child-friendly approach, physiotherapists help kids recover faster, improve their confidence in movement and safe return to the activities they like.

          Looking for help with a kids sports injury?

          If your child has been injured playing a sport or other athletic activity, look for PhysioNow! We have many experienced sports physiotherapists with expertise across a whole range of different sports. Our team will help you and your kids to create a treatment approach to get them healthy and back in the game! With 10 locations across the west GTA, PhysioNow is here to support you and your family. Book with PhysioNow today for your first assessment and treatment!

          Pediatric physiotherapy, Physiotherapy

          Physiotherapy for Children: Safe and Effective!

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          Physiotherapy for kids

          Image by Freepik

          Physiotherapy for children, also known as pediatric physiotherapy, diagnoses and treats a wide variety of conditions and disorders, just like in adults. For example, the usual pulled muscles, sprained ligaments, and broken bones are treated in children very similarly to adults and physiotherapists treat these with expertise. Additionally, some conditions are exclusive to, or more likely to be seen in infants, children, and adolescents. Thus, some physiotherapists specialize in pediatric physiotherapy, to treat these more chronic conditions. In this blog, we discuss the most common conditions seen in physiotherapy, and how a session may be structured differently in adults versus children.

          Most Common Conditions and Disorders

          1. Osgoode Schlatter’s Disease: Firstly, pain is caused by inflammation of the patellar (knee cap) tendon at the bone below the knee. It most commonly affects adolescent, athletic males.

          2. Orthopedic conditions: Includes conditions affecting bones, muscles, and joints ex. Fractures or scoliosis

          3. Developmental Delays: Unfortunately, some individuals have delays in hitting their motor milestones. Luckily, physiotherapists can give exercises to help develop key skills like crawling, walking, and running.

          4. Neurological disorders: This includes conditions affecting the nervous system like traumatic brain injuries or spina bifida.

          5. Torticollis: Affects infants and causes their heads to rotate and sit tilted towards one side

          6. Cerebral palsy: Importantly, it is the most common motor disability in childhood and results in impairments in an individual’s abilities. For example, it affects their mobility and capacity to maintain balance and posture. In addition, there may be other related problems with vision, hearing, and capability to learn.

          Overall, these are just a quick overview of some of the most common conditions treatable with physiotherapy. However, there are other, and rarer, conditions that were not listed.

          What does a treatment look like?

          1. Evaluation and assessment: Firstly, the physiotherapist assesses the child’s movement patterns, strength, and motor milestones. For example, flipping from their stomach to back, crawling, standing balance, coordination and posture.

          2. Tailored treatment plan: Next, depending on the child’s age, the treatment plan is modified appropriately for them. For example, young children have difficulty doing traditional physiotherapy exercises. Instead, physiotherapists use a play-based approach using toys or games. As a result, the sessions are fun and enjoyable. The child must be engaged to improve their skills and strength in pursuit of the physiotherapy goals.

          Play-based physiotherapy for children

          Image by Freepik

          3. Family involvement: Notably, in pediatric physiotherapy, parents and caregivers are heavily involved in the process. This inclusion is crucial to the child’s success. As a result, families are educated on techniques and exercises to perform with their child. Accordingly, they develop a unique daily routine to work on therapeutic goals at home.

          4. Collaboration: Oftentimes, for chronic pediatric conditions, collaboration is necessary with other healthcare professionals. For example, a pediatrician, speech language therapist, occupational therapists and more may be included. They work together to recommend assistive equipment like gait aids, wheelchairs, home equipment, braces, splints and more, depending on the condition.

          If you are interested in learning more about pediatric conditions or think that your child may benefit from physiotherapy, our expert Registered Physiotherapists at PhysioNow are happy to help you. Book with PhysioNow today for an initial assessment and treatment!