Physiotherapy for children in Cheltenham
About children and teenager sports injury
The teenage 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.
Treating children is one of our specialties that is because 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.
We treat children sports injury and related conditions, ranging from basic injuries (sprains, strains and bruises) and postural pain, through to growth disorders and traumatic fracture rehabilitation. 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.
Common conditions that we treat children for include:
- Back Pain - it is estimated that around 50% of adolescents 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 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, 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 children 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 physical performance
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.
Teenager sports injury prevention
Many children sports injuries are minor, but sports related injuries can cause a growth plate injury. The growth plate is the area of tissue near the ends of long bones in children and teens that determines what length and shape the bone will be once it is done growing. The growth plates are weak areas of your child’s growing skeleton, making it easier for children to injure them, especially when they participate in sports.
Growth plate damage can subsequently result in lifelong, growth disturbance. Physiotherapy can treat the growth plate injury early, helping to prevent future challenges.
Improving children's posture
Poor posture in young athletes can lead to a variety of health issues, including back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Physiotherapy can help improve their posture, reducing the risk of these sports injuries. By working with us, your child can learn how to sit, stand, and move in ways that promote good posture and spinal alignment which helps them perform better and reduces their risk of injury.
“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
If children have a sports injury then physiotherapy will help treat the affected area, but it is important that this is followed by a quality rehabilitation plan that will help them recover quicker.
Our expert children's physiotherapists will customise an exercise and strengthening plan, to suit your child's specific sports injury and recovery goals, that they can do either under supervision in our gym or at home. This will improve their strength, mobility and physicality so they can get back to doing the sports they love as quickly as possible, and even stronger than they were before.
“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
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.
For most injuries our chartered physio can usually treat you within 4 to 8 sessions.
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.