You may think of physiotherapy as a treatment option for adults with musculoskeletal conditions or mobility problems, but it can also be used to treat children with similar conditions and injuries. Aside from being an effective treatment for sports injuries and generalised muscle weakness or tension, physiotherapy can also be beneficial for children with gross motor problems, developmental delay and weight challenges. Just like with adult patients, a physiotherapist will carefully assess a child and recommend a program of treatment that's tailored to their specific needs. Here are some signs to look out for that indicate your child may benefit from physiotherapy:
Persistent Pain
When a child experiences persistent joint or muscle pain, it's often dismissed as growing pains. However, there's often something that can be done to tackle common aches and pains and prevent your child from suffering unnecessarily. Physiotherapy can enable your child to strengthen certain muscles and increase their tolerance to certain types of activity. If your child plays a sport, a physiotherapist can also assess their technique and give guidance on supportive footwear and proper form for healthy posture.
Poor Balance And Co-Ordination
If you would consider your child to be on the clumsy side, physiotherapy can help reduce the number of falls and bumps your child has. Accident-prone children often have poor balance and coordination and physiotherapy can help improve these skills by strengthening key muscle groups and retraining your child's body to move in a more coordinated way.
Reduced Stamina
If your child struggles to keep up with the family on days out or seems overly tired after school to the point where you feel they are missing out on fun and taking part in life, they could benefit from working with a physiotherapist to improve their stamina. Working through a program to build their stamina can reduce your child's fatigue, improve their general fitness and even give their self-confidence a boost. Living a full and active lifestyle may also reduce the likelihood that your child will develop a weight problem later in life, as lifestyle habits developed in childhood are often carried over into adulthood.
If you think your child may benefit from seeing a physiotherapist, schedule an initial assessment. During the assessment, your physiotherapist will take details of your child's medical history and any concerns you have, and they may also carry out a physical exam, which may involve gentle manual manipulation to determine whether there are any obvious areas of stiffness or impaired functioning.
For more information about physiotherapy, contact a local therapist.
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