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Osteopathy for Young People
Osteopathy is a natural and safe healthcare procedure for people of all ages including teenagers and children. An osteopath or physiotherapist is trained to use their hands to gently check for the underlying causes of pain and stress.
Teenage years are stressful for kids. Growth spurts from hormonal changes cause joint and muscular pain. The difficulty of managing changes in their body leads to heightened mood issues and physical pain.
They also suffer the damaging effect of poor posture spent playing video games and binge-watching TV series. They spend a lot of time slouching during homework, extensive electronic communications and other sedentary activities. They juggle books across classrooms, play sports and carry a large backpack across one shoulder, to and from school every day.
During exams, their emotional stress level is at an all-time high. The stress often translates into neck and shoulder problem, headaches, back pain, nausea and other feelings of poor health.
Osteopathy is a holistic approach that treats the individual as a whole, not just the specific treatment. The goal is long term wellbeing as against a quick fix. Our osteopaths are certified to treat teenage problems. We use a range of self-help methods and physiotherapy techniques to analyse and treat musculoskeletal function in young people.
When Do Young People need Osteopathy?
One of the founding principles of osteopathy is that a healthy balance of all body parts is essential to good health. Conditions treated by an osteopath include:
Neck Pain
Neck pain mostly happens to young people aged 16-18 years old. There is insufficient research on the causes of neck pain in teenagers but studies found it affects neck muscle strength and head posture. If your teen is suffering from neck pain, an osteopath can help to improve strength through a combination of exercise therapy and massages.
Knee Pain
Young people who enjoy sports are at risk for knee pain. Adolescent knee pain is a sign of a myriad of underlying conditions such as quadriceps tendonitis, patellar tendonitis, Osgood-Schlatter’s disease and patellofemoral stress syndrome.
Joint Pain
Caregivers should be concerned when a child complains of the leg or joint pains. The discomfort is usually caused by growing pains that occur during the preteen years. It usually occurs behind the knees and in the calf or thigh muscles. In more severe cases, this could be a symptom of Lyme disease, lupus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis or leukaemia.
Anxiety
Anyone could suffer from anxiety. It is not a mental health issue limited to adults. Even the most confident teenagers suffer from anxiety. Research shows one in six young people struggle with anxiety at one point in their lives. The average time young people wait before seeking help is 10 years.
Sport Injuries
Sports is one of the major causes of adolescent injury. If it’s not properly treated, it could have far-reaching consequences. The most common sports injuries occur from wearing the wrong equipment/gear and poor training practices. Young people who do not warm up before an activity or are out of shape also risk an injury.
Poor Posture
Young people who have poor posture usually struggle with a range of back issues when they’re older. Teenagers who slouch have a higher risk to develop a weak lower back. Poor posture not only affects looks but a teenager’s health. An osteopath uses a range of exercise therapies to help improve posture and restore the normal balance.
Types of Osteopathy for Young People
Sports massage
Many high performing athletes rely on sports massage to rehabilitate after a sports activity or prepare for an event. Sports massage targets specific muscles and tendons to relieve stress or strain. An osteopath trained in sports massage administers this therapy based on a tailored plan created specifically for you.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps to balance female and male hormone cycles when they experience hormone fluctuations. It’s a great way for young people to relax and support the strenuous demand of secondary school and University.
Research shows regular teen acupuncture sessions has a positive impact on the long-term outcome for teens being treated for mental and emotional health issues. It also has a positive impact on alcohol and drug addictions.
Get Help Today
Hove Osteopaths provides licensed therapists who are trained to work with teenagers and children. Treatment begins with a physical examination to diagnose the problem and create a custom treatment plan for your teenager.
Call 0000000 to make an appointment for your preteen or young one today