Cerebral palsy is just one of the conditions that we commonly treat at Chiltern Children’s Physiotherapy.
We cover:
We would be happy to discuss the concerns that you have for your child and how we can help.
Knee and Foot pain
Knee pain in children can occur for a variety of reasons. This section contains some information about some of the more common reasons for knee pain, these include:
- Injury, from soft tissue injuries to bony injuries such as fractures
- Altered biomechanics, possibly as a result of growth
- Growth related conditions
Anterior knee pain
Anterior knee pain describes pain which is felt around and under the patella (knee cap)
- Very common, particularly in adolescent girls
- Usually worse following prolonged periods of sitting and on stairs
- In more severe cases may result in subluxation or dislocation of the patella (knee cap)
Growth Related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
Osgood Schlatters disease or syndrome
An irritation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity, caused by traction on the patella tendon.
- Characterized by painful lumps just below the knee
- The condition tends to occur during the adolescent growth spurt before the tibial tuberosity has finished ossification
- More common in children who participate in sports involving running and jumping
- Also known as Apophysitis of the tibial tubercle, where small avulsion fractures occur at the ossification centre.
- More common in boys than girls
Sinding-Larsen and Johansson syndrome
Caused by persistent traction at the junction of the patella and patella ligament
- Pain and inflammation at the inferior pole of the patella (knee cap)
- Is usually related to over activity
- Usually occurs in pre-teenage boys
Sever’s Disease
Caused by inflammation of the calcaneal apophysis
- Pain and possible swelling in the heel
- Stiffness in the feet on awaking
- Occurs in children and adolescents
- Thought to be due to repeated ‘microtrauma’ at the site of the attachment of the Achilles tendon to the heel, combined with a growth spurt
- Often occurs in children who actively participate in sporting activities
- More common in boys than girls
- Often worse after sporting activities
Plantar Fasciitis
Inflammation of your plantar fascia, a strong band of tissue (like a ligament) that stretches from your heel to the ball of your foot.
- Thought to be caused by repeated small injuries to the fascia
- Can occur as a result of an increase in physical activity or a change in training surface (track running to road running)
- Poor footwear may contribute
How can physiotherapy help?
The physiotherapist will undertake a thorough examination and an in depth history to confirm the diagnosis. Will provide exercises; stretches and advice regarding levels of activity and participation in sporting activities.
