Written by: Faye Appleby, Edited by: Andy McCrea

8th February 2021

Today, Paul and Andy, our Clinical Directors, have been showing off their virtual webinar skills (loosely!) for Ashfold school, parents and teaching staff.

Both Paul and Andy have a wealth of knowledge and specialist interest in adolescent growth related injuries. They took the opportunity to discuss the common causes for a mixture of conditions found in young athletes including; Apophysitis Syndrome (AS), Osgood Schlatter’s condition, Sever’s condition and pars defects.

The presentation homed in on the importance of managing adolescent athletes, particularly due to the high exposure to sport at a time of major physical changes. Children often have rapid growth spurts which can in turn affect their stability and co-ordination.

There was a clinical case study of a young athlete with a pars fracture.  Andy discussed the assessment procedure and gave an example rehabilitation plan.  The programme started at the early stage rehab all the way through to ‘return to sport’ specific exercises. In the early stages of rehab, the primary aim is to reduce pain. As the rehab continues, the aims become a more sport-specific re-education of the athlete. Every patient we see at Elite is different, and children presenting with any injuries are treated with an individualised programme, there is not a ‘one size’ fits all when it comes to rehab.

Paul discussed in the webinar the presentation of traumatic and chronic injuries in young athletes, he explained the aim is always to get to the root cause of the injury. Although, with traumatic injuries, they are generally harder to prevent. There are both intrinsic and extrinsic factors which can affect or lead to a child’s injury, including, but not limited to; age, previous injury, poor balance, co-ordination or understanding the movements required.

The webinar also detailed points regarding concussion in young athletes, common signs and symptoms and tools to be used pitch-side when suspecting concussion. The parents and staff were also given key reading points for further background information on concussion in children.

Paul and Andy want to say a big thank you to Ashfold School for inviting them.

If you are a parent looking to organise rehabilitation for your child’s growth related injuries, a school teacher or team coach interested in a useful webinar for your parents and pupils, or if you are an injured adult; we’ve got you covered.

Call us on 01296 437 717 to book your assessment or webinar today.