Paediatric Physiotherapy: Caring for children with musculoskletal conditions impacting physical growth, movement & engaging in everyday activities

A Paediatric Physiotherapist in Fairfield

Is your child encountering growing pains with their development? Perhaps they have sustained an injury from playing sport, impairing their function?

At Fairfield Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Centre, we provide comprehensive paediatric physiotherapy services, designed to empower your child to achieve their full potential. We are strongly committed to delivering the best possible care for our patients, applying tailored programs with evidence-based treatment techniques that acutely address their needs.

What is Child Physiotherapy?

Paediatric physiotherapy is a branch of general physiotherapy with a closer focus on assessing, diagnosing, and treating the mix of conditions that can affect a child’s movement, strength, and function.

While physiotherapy can encompass various specialisations, our particular focus at Fairfield Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Centre is sports injuries and growing pains in children. We work with children of all ages, from primary school to teenagers, to develop personalised treatment plans.

Our physiotherapists are skilled in evaluating and treating various issues, and can also provide guidance and care for the common yet often perplexing issue of growing pains. Through targeted interventions, we help children improve their strength, mobility and return to their normal activities as quickly and safely as possible.

What are the Common Signs & Indicators You May Need a Child Physiotherapist?

As a parent, be aware of certain behaviours or struggles in your children that may indicate a need for paediatric physiotherapy.

Our physiotherapists can help if you notice any of the following in your child:

Persistent pain during or after sports activities
A decrease in performance or avoidance of certain activities
Complaints of aching or throbbing pain in the legs, especially in the late afternoon or evening
Pain that awakens your child during the night
Limping or difficulty walking
Unexplained, recurrent pain in muscles or joints

Physiotherapy Services for Children and Adolescents

Our physiotherapists have a wealth of experience managing a wide range of conditions affecting children and adolescents, with some of the most common including:

Sports-Related Injuries

As the name suggests, sports-related injuries refer to any injury sustained while participating in sports or physical activity. While these injuries can range from mild to severe, their impact on the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons isn’t always readily apparent. As such, physiotherapy for children and adolescents can often provide relief and assistance with a range of maladies, including:

Sprains and strains
Rehabilitation following fractures and dislocations
Overuse injuries including Severs disease and Osgood-Schlatter’s disease(apophysitis)

Growing Pains

Growing pains are common in children aged between three to eleven years, usually occurring in the late afternoon, evening, or night. They are often characterised by an aching or throbbing feeling in both legs, typically in the front of the thighs, the calves, or behind the knees.

While the cause of growing pains isn’t completely understood, they often occur after a child has been particularly active. Our physiotherapists are well-versed in advising and guiding children through the challenges presented by growing pains, with treatment and management strategies including:

Pain relief strategies
Exercise and activity advice
Education materials and support

While growing pains are typically harmless, they can cause prolonged discomfort, sometimes inhibiting your child’s favourite activities or even their sleep cycle. Effective solutions offered both in our clinic and at home can often provide much-needed relief. Referral to a medical specialist may be recommended.

Personalised, Multi-Faceted Treatment Plans

To address these conditions, each child physiotherapist at our clinic will utilise a suite of treatment techniques tailored to each patient’s specific needs:

Manual therapy: Employing hands-on techniques to help improve joint mobility, muscle flexibility, and overall function.
Exercise programs: Personalised exercise plans designed to help children build strength, improve motor skills, and increase their endurance.

Scheduling and Preparing for Your Child Physiotherapy Consultation

Regardless of your child’s age or physical activity level, our skilled physiotherapists at Fairfield Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Centre are here to assess, treat, and help prevent any movement or functional issues.

Schedule your child’s initial physiotherapy consultation today. Bookings can be made online or by calling (03) 9489 7744. Please ensure your child wears comfortable attire for the appointment.