Physiotherapy during a growth spurt

Growth spurts are important for the development of a child. In the first years of life and up to adolescence, the child’s organism changes very quickly in phases. Growth can take place both on a physical and psychological level.

Within the first 14 months of life alone, 8 growth spurts are distinguished, which are important for the child’s developmental progress. But “growth spurts” also occur in adolescence. These are often associated with unpleasant growth pains and can lead to temporary bad posture or coordination problems. In physiotherapy, children and adolescents who suffer from the consequences of rapid growth can be treated. In this respect, you may find these articles interesting:

  • Coordination exercises
  • Muscular imbalances
  • Posture school

Symptoms

The first year of life is accompanied by growth spurts: when children and adolescents experience growth spurts, the focus is more on body growth. This can lead to sometimes severe pulling pain in the extremities or even in the back. This pain usually occurs at night.

Coordination skills also change. Immediately after a growth spurt, the child’s coordination is often worse and he or she moves awkwardly and awkwardly. The child’s posture also changes with rapid growth. In the following articles you will find more information on this topic:

  • Often accompanied by restlessness of the baby
  • The child has increased hunger
  • Would like to be breastfed more often
  • It sleeps less through
  • Screams possibly more often
  • Posture school
  • Propriroceptive neuromuscular facilitation
  • Postural deficiency
  • Coordination and balance exercises

Physiotherapy

In physiotherapy the growth of children and also babies can be influenced. Especially for babies who have suffered a difficult birth, premature birth or other complications, pediatric physiotherapy according to Bobath or Vojta can be considered. These are therapy concepts that specialize in promoting the development of children.

The child’s development can be supported by certain grips or stimuli. Asymmetries of the bony or muscular system can be prevented or reduced and the child’s behavior and movements can also be positively influenced. For example, one practices turning on one’s side or supports the development of foot-hand coordination and the child’s perception.

The Vojta and Bobath therapy concepts can already be applied to infants and accompany children with developmental disorders, in some cases throughout their lives. Growth spurts in later childhood and adolescence can also be treated physiotherapeutically. Rapid strong growth often leads to a malposition of the back because the muscles are not yet strong enough to stabilize the spine in its physiological position.

In physiotherapy, the back and abdominal muscles are strengthened and posture training is carried out with the children in a playful and child-oriented manner. Therapy spinning tops, trampoline or gymnastic balls can be used to make the therapy exciting and varied. Especially for adolescent older teenagers, the motivation for therapy can be a challenge.

It is important to do the exercises and homework from the physiotherapeutic treatment regularly at home. Targeted therapy can prevent later incorrect posture and axial malpositions of the spine or extremities and thus prevent joint diseases. The posture of the child in everyday life should also be controlled.

Backpacks, the workplace and also the leisure environment should be adapted to the back. The child should be sufficiently active in everyday life. The following articles may also be of interest to you:

  • Childhood malposition/back problems
  • Sitting correctly
  • Back-friendly lifting and carrying
  • Back school