adolescent physiotherapy in Cheltenham
children sports injury treatment
We have provided Cheltenham College's Physiotherapy service for the last 8 years and therefore understand that the adolescent years are a time of rapid growth and development for children, which is why it's common for teenagers to experience a wide range of physical challenges. Teenagers are more susceptible to sport injuries, musculoskeletal conditions, and developmental issues during this period. We are accredited Chartered Physiotherapists and DBS Certified to work with children so you know that your child is in safe hands.
Children physiotherapy is one of our specialties, we recognise that children's body structures are very different to adults, so they need specialist care. Growth plate injuries often occur in children and teens who take part in competitive sports or activities that increase the risk of a fall or being hit. We have plenty of experience providing exactly this, as the prestigious Cheltenham College’s sports physiotherapy team.
At our adolescent physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham we treat sports injury and related conditions in children, ranging from basic injuries (sprains, strains and bruises) and postural pain, through to growth disorders and traumatic fractures. Quality rehabilitation for children is as important as the initial treatment. In many cases, the causes are part and parcel of a healthy active childhood – the usual catalogue of sports and recreational injuries, falls, sprains, crashes and bashes. We can correspond with coaches, sport teachers and team mates to achieve the best management of injuries and disorders. If you’d like to find out more about our services, or have any questions or queries, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Common conditions that we treat children for include:
- Back Pain - it is estimated that around 50% of teenagers in the UK complain of back pain, generally of the mid and lower spine. There are many causes for this, including exercise, sport and even carrying a heavy bag to and from school or college.
- Osgood Schlatter Disease - this is a condition that causes pain and swelling below the knee joint. It is very common in children in their early teens.
- Jumpers Knee - is very similar to Osgood Schlatter Disease, inthat it is shown as inflammation of the patellar tendon which is where you knee cap joins to your shin bone.
- Sever's Disease - this is who growing children suffer from heel pain. This is often caused by playing sport and regular exercise.
- Shin Splints - these are commonly caused by regular exercise and sport. It is presented as pain and swelling around the lower part of your leg.
Benefits of childrens physiotherapy
As with any Physiotherapy patient, the process begins with an assessment. Though the approach is adapted to the needs and mindset of a younger audience. We will ask you and your child about their activity routine, injury history, accident details (if applicable), amount and frequency of pain and any restriction to movement. He or she will then review any scans or x-rays, and run a number of manual or movement based observations and tests – including range of motion, impingement, imbalances, and strength, amongst others.
Following diagnosis, as with adults, youth physiotherapy treatment usually takes the form of manual and exercise therapy, coupled with education – primarily at-home stretches and strengthening exercises. The biggest difference with Physiotherapy treatment for children is that we make the sessions more fun.
At our children physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham our experienced physiotherapists will help your child learn how to move and play safely, so that they reduce their risk of injury. We can also identify weaknesses that may lead to injury and develop a youth sports injury prevention plan. By working with us, children can learn how to stay safe and healthy while participating in their favourite physical activities whilst preventing overuse injuries.
Improving performance
We all take pride in the sports accomplishments of our children and teens. However, their growing bodies are also prone to injury. Physiotherapy can help children improve their physical performance. By working with us, your child can develop their strength, flexibility and endurance. This can help them perform better in sports and other physical activities, help them avoid injury and allow them to recover more quickly if they do get injured.
sports injury prevention
Growth plates are the areas at the end of the long bones in the arms and legs responsible for making new bone. The growth plates are weaker than the nearby ligaments and tendons which means children are at a greater risk of injury than adults. A twisted ankle that might result in a sprain in an adult, could result in a more serious growth plate fracture in a young athlete. Growth plate injuries have the potential to disrupt the normal growth of bone.
Sometimes, injury prevention may be a simple case of adjusting your technique or equipment. For example, a physiotherapist may suggest altering the grip size on your tennis racquet to reduce the risk of developing tennis elbow. Or they may be able to tweak your swim stroke to protect your shoulder.
Improving posture
Poor posture in children can have a significant impact on their physical health, including back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Physiotherapy can help improve their posture, reducing the risk of these sports injuries.
A physiotherapist can fix posture issues in children through a variety of techniques, including exercises, stretches, and hands-on manual therapy. Physiotherapists are experts in identifying and treating postural problems, and they can help children improve their posture by addressing the underlying causes of their poor posture.
“We successfully treat children's sport injury all the time, whether they’re obtained from rugby, hockey, netball, football, cricket, racket sports, athletics, swimming or simply having fun. We know what we're doing.”
Sarah Fossella, Founder and Lead Physiotherapist
Rehabilitation for children
Children sports injury treatment will help the initial injury heal, but it is important that this is followed by a quality rehabilitation plan that will help children recover quicker and stronger rhan before.
The rehabilitation exercises we prescribe to children are age-appropriate, engaging and sport relevant. Unlike adults, who may be more disciplined in following a routine, children benefit from exercises that are fun and interactive. We often incorporate games and activities into the therapy sessions to make the process enjoyable and to improve compliance.
Ensuring a comprehensive and engaging rehabilitation plan not only aids in physical recovery but also fosters a positive attitude towards injury management and prevention in young athletes.
“By working with a Chartered Physiotherapist, young people can learn the skills and knowledge they need to stay healthy and active throughout their lives. As a parent, it's a good idea to add physiotherapy to your child's healthcare routine. It can make a big difference in their physical and mental health and well-being.”
Stuart Fossella, Founder and Lead Physiotherapist
Book now
At Straight Back Physio we believe in giving our patients the opportunity to engage and explain their injury history, lifestyle etc. to our physiotherapists therefore each new patient is given 45minutes on their first appointment with follow ups being 30 minutes in length.
Recover faster, our chartered physios can usually get you back to redoing the activities you can't do now within 4 to 8 sessions.
We understand that some people may want to find out a bit more about the cost before they book an appointment at our physiotherapy clinic. Our unique
save as you recover packages can save you up to 20% on the cost of a single session.
Insured
If you are looking for treatment, we can either work directly with your insurance company or we can provide receipts for patients who use cash-based plans so you can reclaim your treatment costs.
Not Insured
You can book an appointment in our teenage physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham on a self referral basis, without the need for seeing your GP first.
Why Choose Us
No other local physiotherapy clinic can offer you the same level of physiotherapy and rehabilitation that we can, simply because they don't have our level of experience and our in-house gym facilities. This is how we gained our reputation of treating patients when other physios may have failed.