Specialist Paediatric treatment in Cambridge
Physiotherapy for children is different than for adults. Children aren’t just smaller versions of us – their bodies are growing, so they can’t be treated in the same way as a person who is fully grown.
In fact, there are some conditions seen in children, associated with their development, that simply don’t affect adults at all. That’s why it’s so important for your child to see a physiotherapist who has specialist training and knowledge of children’s anatomy, normal development and common physical conditions specific to their age.
Common paediatric conditions treated here
At our Cambridge clinic we specialise in musculoskeletal (MSK) paediatric physiotherapy. That is physiotherapy treatment for conditions affecting bones, joints, ligaments and tendons.
The sort of conditions a paediatric MSK physiotherapist can treat include:
Growing pains – a sudden growth spurt means that your child’s bones have lengthened rapidly. Sometimes it takes their muscles a week or so to catch up with this growth which can cause a painful pulling on the point where a tendon attaches muscle to their bones (traction apophysitis). Common places include the heels, knees and the front or back of the pelvis.
Fracture and surgical rehabilitation – children’s bones are more flexible than an adult’s and the ligaments that attach to them are actually stronger than the bone itself, so the type of fractures seen in children are unique to their age group. They also heal faster because their bones are still growing. Children who have physiotherapy following fracture or surgery often achieve a return to normal flexibility and strength more rapidly.
Sports injuries – sprains and strains can happen to anyone and the goals for treatment are similar to those of an adult but the approach is different, as physiotherapy sessions for kids need to be fun and interactive to help keep them interested and enthusiastic about coming to see us.
Assessment of in-toeing (feet turning in) – in-toeing is very common and rarely painful or problematic. It usually resolves as your child grows and treatment isn’t really needed in younger children. If it doesn’t improve by age 14, then exercises to strengthen the muscles around their hips can be helpful in some cases. We can assess and advise if your child would benefit from a programme of exercises to correct this problem.
Hypermobility – increased flexibility of the ligaments and tendons that support your child’s joints means than one or more of their joints might move more than normal. It’s more common in girls than boys and it’s not necessarily a bad thing, in fact having greater flexibility can be a huge advantage. To harness this potential we can teach your child how to stabilise and control the movement around their joints.
Scoliosis – mild sideways curves of the spine aren’t caused by anything your child has (or hasn’t) done, like slouching or carrying a heavy bag. They will need to be monitored while they are still growing but for lots of people it doesn’t cause significant pain or health issues into adulthood. We recommend clinical pilates exercises to release tight areas of the spine, improve awareness of alignment and strengthen internal muscles that help support and control the movement of the spine.
Rapid access to a pediatric physiotherapist in Cambridge
Our lead physio Rowan Wilson provides all our paediatric services here and will be able to offer you and your child a careful assessment, a clear explanation of any musculoskeletal issues and suggest simple strategies for management.
We understand that parents may be anxious about their children’s health and wellbeing and the qualifications and skill set of the clinician that might treat them. You are very welcome to call us direct in advance of any appointment to talk to one of us about any aspect of the paediatric service that we offer here.
