Supporting Growth, Empowering Teenagers: Osteopathy for Vibrant Lives
Peer pressure, examination stress, demanding sports schedules, and relationship growth are just a few physical and mental hurdles teenagers face as their bodies transition from child to adult.
Why Should I Take My Teenager to an Osteopath?
- Early adolescent years see a spike in spinal growth and development, and it takes time for muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia to adjust to the rapid growth spurts and postural alterations. Scoliosis and other aberrant spinal curves can form at this stage.
- The increased demands of studying, like carrying heavy school bags, exams and the stress that goes along with them, extended periods of sitting, and possibly bad posture, present additional challenges to the body at this time of transformation. Eating and sleeping patterns may also be affected.
- Teenagers are also more likely to use technology, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, for extended periods of time, which contributes to poor posture.
- More accidents falls, and specific sports- or growth-related pains, including apophysitis of the tibial tubercle, also known as Osgood-Schlatter disease, can occur as a result of increased physical activity and sports injuries.
What symptoms can teenagers experience?
Parents will notice that the additional demands stated above will manifest as joint and muscle discomfort, stiffness, and pain. The most frequently affected areas are given below.
- Knee pain;
- Headaches;
- upper back pain;
- Lower back pain;
- Neck pain
- Muscle aches;
- Sports injuries
- Hand and wrist pain;
- Gaming thumb or aching thumb
- Poor posture
How can osteopaths aid teenage patients?
Teenagers should have regular evaluations throughout this time. Osteopathy for teenagers might benefit them by promoting proper alignment and posture. The advice can be offered on posture, exercise, stretching, exercise equipment, shoes, school bags, pillows, and study areas.
We take the time to consider all the factors leading to discomfort, strain, or injury and treat people, not conditions. Soft tissue massage, joint articulation, and occasionally joint manipulation are used during treatment, which is typically gentle. Teenagers frequently report how this is incredibly calming and how their sleep improves later.
Like going to the dentist, it is advisable for teenagers to have regular checks, sometimes even if there is no complaint.
If problems aren’t addressed, they may worsen mood problems and cause pain, but by evaluating, treating, and controlling their musculoskeletal function, osteopaths, together with self-help strategies like stretching exercises recommended by a practitioner, stress reduction approaches, and dietary adjustments, have the ability to significantly impact how beneficial this natural process is.