Growing Pains Sydney CBD
“Growing pains”, growth plate injuries, overuse conditions are more and more prevalent as our kids become highly specialised in their sports. Make sure you get your children’s feet, legs, shoes checked annually. We are here to offer advice.
Alleviate Growing Pains in Children: Expert Care in Sydney CBD
Heel Pain in Children
Heel pain in children are commonly known as Severs Disease. It is a growth plate condition causing foot pain and ankle pain. Growing pains are common in children especially those who are active. Children between the ages of 8 – 14 years.
Recommendation: Treatment commonly includes shoe advice, de-loading the heel, strength and stretching programs.
Accessory Navicular
The accessory navicular (os navicularum or os tibiale externum) is an extra bone or piece of cartilage located on the inner side of the foot just above the arch. It is incorporated within the posterior tibial tendon, which attaches in this area. An accessory navicular is congenital (present at birth).
WARNING---“Growing pains” are not growing pains…
While sporting participation promotes physical and emotional well-being of children, it also encourages the lifelong habit of exercise. While the benefits of exercise are significant, too much will result in injury. In a world of “ sporting specialization, it is not uncommon for children to training x3-4 sessions per week and play x2 competitive games on the weekend. Young bones, muscles and tendons cannot cope with loading week after week after week and injury will occur.
Overuse injuries can affect muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and growth plates. In children, these structures are still growing, and the growth is generally uneven. Bones grow first, which pulls at tight muscles and tendons. This uneven growth pattern makes younger athletes more susceptible to muscle, tendon, and growth plate injuries.
Growth plates are the areas of developing cartilage where bone growth occurs in children. The growth plates are weaker than the nearby ligaments and tendons. Repetitive stress can lead to injury of the growth plate and disrupt the normal growth of the bone.
Our team of podiatrists while consulting to professional sporting teams also look after the academies of these teams (Sydney Swans Academy // Junior manly NRL representative teams // Private School elite sporting programs // Junior Cricket.
Let us guide you and help the growing athlete to participate in sport safely and minimise injury.