Growing Strong: Specialised Physiotherapy for Children

Common paediatric conditions where we can help include:

• Sports Injuries & General Orthopaedic Conditions
• Torticollis 
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Asthma
• Chest infections (bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis)
• Post-operative (rehabilitation and chest physiotherapy)

Respiratory Conditions in Paediatrics:

There are many reasons for respiratory diseases in children. These range from premature births, genetic conditions, surgery, infections and viruses. Respiratory (chest) physiotherapy in children with respiratory disease aims are:

• Assisting in the removal of secretions 
• Removing any airway obstruction
• Reducing any resistance in the child’s airway
• Enhancing the exchange of oxygen in the child’s lungs
• Easing the child’s ability to breathe

Symptoms of respiratory conditions can include:

• Coughing
• Runny or blocked nose
• Shortness of breath
• Altered breathing pattern
• Wheezing
• Stridor (high pitched squeaking noise) 

Many children seen under the umbrella of respiratory medicine benefit from physiotherapy. Physiotherapists bring a wide range of skills in the clinical management of this group of patients. These roles include secretion clearance, breathing re-education, inhaled therapy(nebulising), education for respiratory health, postural drainage, exercise prescription, support with weaning ventilation and admission prevention.

Treatment Techniques

• Nebulisation
• Manual techniques to enable chest clearance
• Postural drainage
• Therapeutic exercise
• Suctioning
• Education and advice on self-management

Orthopaedic Physiotherapy 

Children often develop orthopaedic conditions either through their physical development or through sports/play. In numerous conditions, physiotherapy is required in order to decrease pain and/or strengthen specific muscles around the injury. In the cases that require surgery, physiotherapy is the next stage in the rehabilitation process.

• Sports Injuries – muscle and joint
• Perthes disease
• Spondylolisthesis
• Scoliosis
• Recurrent Shoulder Dislocations
• Post fracture management
• Juvenile Arthritis 
• Osgood-Schlatter disease