Adolescent Physiotherapy
Adolescent Musculoskeletal Injuries:
Adolescence is defined as the second decade of life and represents a period of significant physical, psychological and cognitive development. During puberty, adolescents undergo marked growth and significant musculoskeletal and physiological development.
In addition to overall height changes, there are rapid increases in long bone length and limb mass and a temporary decline in coordination and neuromuscular control!
Girls begin their pubertal growth spurt around 9 years of age and boys at 11 years of age. In total, females and males will grow ~25cm and ~28cm respectively, during this pubertal growth spurt.
In addition to overall height changes, they will also experience rapid increases in long bone length and in overall limb mass. With longer and heavier limbs to control, it’s no wonder that there is also a temporary decline in coordination and neuromuscular control during this period!
These changes related to rapid growth and bony changes can cause a range of injuries unique to the adolescent group including:
- Avulsion Fracture Injuries
- Apophysitis
- Osteochondritis Dissecans
Avulsion Fractures:
A small chip of bone is pulled off by a relatively stronger muscle during a sudden, forceful muscle contraction during sports or activity. These injuries are often managed conservatively and respond well to physiotherapy, strengthening exercises and a gradual return to sport.
Apophysitis:
The apophysis describes the part of a bone where major tendons and ligaments attach. Apophysitis is an irritation and inflammation of this bony attachment point and is most often an overuse injury, with the adolescent completing high training loads or repetitive movements in their sport. Common sites for apophysitis are the knee (oschgood schlatters), heel (severs disease) and at multiple locations around the hip.
Osteochondritis dissecans:
Osteochondritis dissecans is a joint disorder, where break-down of bone and the overlying cartilage occurs. This damage can cause small pieces of bone to separate and create pain and swelling in the joint. The exact cause of this disorder is not known, but it is thought that repetitive stress or small traumas during sporting activities may affect blood supply to the bone thus creating the bony damage.
Early diagnosis and treatment is key for better long-term outcomes. Many adolescents can be managed conservatively, with activity restriction and reduced loads through the affected joint (often with the use of braces and/or crutches). Sometimes surgery is required to help promote bony healing. After surgery, these adolescents will require physiotherapy rehabilitation to improve strength and mobility and a guided return to activities.
Experienced in assessing and managing these unique adolescent musculoskeletal injuries.
At Fit and Flow Physiotherapy our physiotherapists are experienced in assessing and managing these unique adolescent musculoskeletal injuries.
We will work closely with the adolescent athlete and “their team”, that is the other treating medical practitioners, team coaches and support staff and even school teachers, to ensure a coordinated approach to your adolescent’s management, which will see them back on the field/court sooner!
We will assess your adolescent for strength, flexibility, coordination and body awareness (proprioception)deficits that may have set them up for this injury. Allowing us to create an individualised management plan that will not only treat this current injury but also address deficits that could set them up for future injuries too!
If you have more questions about an Adolescent Injury, enter some more details in our Injury Form so we can get back to you!
About Fit and Flow
Extensive experience in musculoskeletal and sports injuries, adolescent injuries, pre and post-natal physiotherapy, women's health and surgical rehabilitation.
Tell us more about your injury
Tell us more about your injury. Not sure whether physiotherapy can help wth your current injury or limitation? Fill out the questionnaire with some background information and we can contact you about your specific injury!
Early on, your baby is working hard just to overcome gravity... a heavy head and weighty limbs definitely feels different compared to moving within the fluid filled womb 🤰🏼
Spending some time lying on their side during those short, wakeful periods after a nappy change allows your baby to use gravity in their favour 👶🏼, helping them bring hand to hand and hands to mouth.
Stay tuned for tips on setting up successful side lying, and the benefits of bringing hands together.
Meet Emma 👋🏼
Emma will be joining our team from next week!
Since graduating with a Masters in Physiotherapy in 2015 👩🏻🎓, Emma has been working in some of the top musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy clinics in the St George 🐉 and Sutherland Shire 🦈
Having come from an elite gymnastics background 🤸🏻♀️, Emma understands the hard work and dedication it takes to achieve your fitness and sporting goals 🥇
She is passionate about helping people recover from injury and return to what they love 💕 !
She doesn’t want to be a road-block to your fitness 🙅🏻♀️ and would rather work alongside you to find ways to keep you active and training 🏇🏻 🏄🏻♀️ 🚴🏻 without worsening your injury.
Think Emma is the right fit for you and your injury? Click the link in the bio to read more about Emma, then book an appointment and get back to being active again 💻....
Wishing all our patients and friends a very Happy Easter 🐥🐰
We hope you are all enjoying some down-time with loved ones 👨👩👦 and eating all the chocolate 🍫 🤤
Fit and Flow Physiotherapy will be closed 🚪 for the Easter Long Weekend 🐰 🐥 - from Friday 2nd April (Good Friday) through to Monday 5th April (Easter Monday).
We still have appointments available this week 🙌🏽 on Wednesday and Thursday for those who need a niggle seen before their Easter holiday!
Click the link in the bio 👆🏻 to book online 🖥️ or call 📱 8544 3680
Adolescence is the second decade of life and represents a period of significant physical 🌱 💪🏽 development (not to mention psychological, cognitive and emotional development!)
Adolescent athletes 🤸🏻♀️ can suffer different injuries to their adult counterparts and should be managed by physios 👩🏼⚕️👨🏻⚕️ with experience in this area!
At Fit and Flow Physio, we have a strong interest in keeping our junior athletes fit and active 😁. We work not only with the junior athlete, but with their coach(es), their family, school and sports team(s) to ensure a smooth rehab and return to sport 🏃🏾♂️ 🙌🏼 !
Click the link in the bio 👆🏻👆🏾 to learn more about how our physios can help your junior athlete!