There are a wide range of growth-related injuries that can occur in children and teenagers. These injuries commonly develop in those who live highly active lifestyles. Participating in school physical education, after school clubs and individual sports clubs daily.
These injuries occur during growth spurts where the bone grows, and the muscles/tendons become tight and start to pull on the bone causing pain and dysfunction.
Symptoms are usually tightness to the surrounding muscles, pain to the bone, occasional swelling, sometimes a lump can develop, limping/difficulty walking and pain during and after activities. In more severe cases, the pain may start to develop in the mornings and generally increase throughout the day with exacerbated symptoms during and after activity.
Common growth-related injuries include:
Severs disease: pain to the heel, occurs in young adolescents between 7-10 years.
Osgood-Schlatter’s disease: pain to the front of the knee, occurs in young adolescents between 10-15 years old.
Sinding Larsen and Johansson Syndrome: pain to the front of the knee, occurs in young adolescents between 10-15 years old.
How can growth related injuries be treated?
Due to these injuries occurring during growth spurts they typically resolve spontaneously when the child has stopped growing. Managing training load is key for these injuries, modifying the amount of activity that is carried out until the pain settles and then slowly increasing participation as pain and inflammation allow.
The therapists at Mike Varney Physiotherapy can provide treatment such as massage, kinesiology taping, interferential therapy, and in some cases radial shockwave therapy. A home exercise program will also be provided to maintain integrity of muscles and tendons without posing risk for further injury.
Call 01279 414 959 to book an appointment today!
OCT
2019