Similar to the joints of the spine, extremity joints, the shoulder, knee, ankle and TMJ to name a few, often require manipulation to restore normal mobility and function. Repetitive strain or overuse injuries are a common reason patients see me. Using specific muscles repetitively over time can lead to injury. Without correcting the underlying issue that led to the injury, these injuries tend to recur. Pain is often the first indicator that a joint and it’s musculature are being misused or overused. Complaints such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow as well as runner’s knee and iliotibial band syndrome are all examples of overuse injuries.
Although many of these injuries are seen in adults, I see more and more of these injuries occurring in kids, especially those who play sports. Hours of practice every week combined with frequent growth spurts are associated with overuse injuries such as Osgood-Schlatter’s disease (knee) and Sever’s disease (ankle). My primary goal while treating children is to get them out of pain asap by correcting the problem, reconditioning the area of complaint and returning them to their support as quickly as is safely possible. In addition to manipulation, I utilize various physiotherapies (ultrasound, E-stim, k-taping) to reduce inflammation, improve muscle strength and stabilize weak joints. The good news is most kid’s feel better after their first visit.