Rehabilitationfor children

It is worth sending your child to orthopaedic rehabilitation if you have noticed faulty posture or other problems related to the locomotor system. Alarming signals for a parent should include:

• the child tendency to assume faulty postures (e.g. stooping);
• problems with overcoming obstacles (e.g. curbs, stairs);
• frequent tripping while walking;
• problems with catching a ball;
• complete avoidance of physical activity by the child.

The most common problems observed in children and youth, which qualify them for orthopaedic rehabilitation, include:

• rounded back – characterised by stooped position causes by deepening thoracic kyphosis. Children affected by this defect have forward posture of the head, their shoulders are shifted to the front and the chest is compressed, which may result in backaches and problems with breathing. This is usually the result of long hours spent in front of a computer;
• scoliosis – it is a three-dimensional deformation of the spinal curvature. Scoliosis is manifested by asymmetries in the child’s body visible from the sides and from the back. Such defects result in deformations of the child’s posture, and hence require an immediate therapy. Scoliosis may be congenital or acquired;
• flat feet – it is characterised by lowering of the medial plantar arch, which means that the foot is flattened and almost completely adheres to the ground. This defect usually results from excessive static and dynamic loads. It may also result from overweight or badly selected footwear;
• valgity of the knees and feet – manifests itself through the legs being placed in the shape of the letter ‘X’, which results in an awkward, staggering and sometimes even painful gait. Valgity may be cured only in childhood. It may be the result of a too rapid growth.

Patients who have undergone a surgery of a motor organ may receive postoperative rehabilitation. In the case of serious spine problems, it is worth undergoing specialist spine rehabilitation at ENEL-SPORT centres.

During their first appointment, children and youth under the age of 18 should be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. The rehabilitation services for children and youth are provided by experienced physiotherapists who, in a comfortable atmosphere and with the use of state-of-the-art infrastructure, help to correct the young people’s faulty posture and instil in them the natural need for movement.

To use the paediatric rehabilitation services in Łódź or Warsaw, you need no referral from a specialist. Each appointment starts with taking a detailed medical history with the child and her legal guardian, in order to assess the child’s health and fitness. Next, the little patient is asked to use the specialist ZEBRIS rehabilitation equipment, which makes it possible to precisely assess his or her posture. Therefore, it is important to bring the following items for the first appointment:

• the guardian’s and the child’s identity document (a school ID card or passport);
• the child’s medical records available;
• a medical referral (if the child has received one);
• comfortable sportswear that does not restrict movements.

In the end, the physician talks about the recommendations – by explaining what exercises should be performed and how often to correct the selected postural defect as quickly as possible.

Adult patients who suffer from locomotor problems may be taken care of by ENEL-SPORT specialists within the framework of orthopaedic rehabilitation for adults.

At ENEL-SPORT facilities, our little patients have access to state-of-the-art diagnostic and rehabilitation equipment for children, which makes it possible to efficiently work on the child’s posture. Complete rehabilitation of children and teenagers covers:

• comprehensive medical and physiotherapeutic diagnostics – based on a medical history, computer imaging diagnostics and the existing medical records, the specialist diagnoses the motor organ defect and recommends the best treatment methods;
• manual therapy – involves proper compression of selected areas on the child’s body by an experienced physiotherapist with a broad orthopaedic knowledge. It is a non-invasive method for correcting defects and eliminating pain;
• rehabilitation exercises – a set of exercises adapted to the age, height and postural defect of a given child. They may be performed with or without rehabilitation equipment for children, such as balls and rollers;
• developing healthy habits in the child – this type of work must be performed by the little patient at home on an everyday basis. The specialist recommends suitable exercises and behavioural patterns, and then controls the child’s progress during subsequent appointments.