During childhood and adolescence, one of the largest worldwide threats to health is physical inactivity. This leads to obesity nearly tripling between 1975-and 1987; then plateauing for a few decades before rising again beginning around 2000[5]. Today over 340 million children aged 5-19 years old are overweight or obese resulting from lackadaisical attitudes towards their own well-being combined with an ever-growing challenge that therapists face when trying to promote exercise among youth. Several studies show that physiotherapy can help prevent injuries among children and adolescents. For example, a systematic review published in 2016 showed that interventions that included a physical activity component led to a reduction in sports-related injuries by 31% (relative risk 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.57 to 0.84). Furthermore, a randomized controlled trial published in 2017 showed that a physiotherapy-led injury prevention program for adolescent cricket players significantly reduced the risk of sustaining an overuse injury by 50% (relative risk 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.31 to 0.81)[7]. So how does physiotherapy help prevent injuries? Physiotherapy can help prevent injuries in children and adolescents by: 1. Increasing participation in physical activity Physiotherapy can increase participation in physical activity by providing education on the importance of exercise for overall health, helping to develop individualized exercise programs that are appropriate for each child or adolescent’s level of fitness, and providing ongoing support to help maintain motivation levels. 2. Improving technique and biomechanics Physiotherapy can improve technique and biomechanics by providing education on proper techniques for various physical activities, and by conducting assessments to identify any existing movement deficiencies that may be putting a child or adolescent at risk of injury. Corrective exercises and/or manual therapy techniques can then be utilized to address any movement deficiencies. 3. Optimising strength, power, and flexibility Physiotherapy can optimize strength, power, and flexibility by designing and progressing exercise programs that target these specific areas. This is important as research has shown that deficits in any of these areas can increase the risk of sustaining an injury. 4. Improving aerobic fitness Physiotherapy can improve aerobic fitness by providing education on the importance of aerobic exercise for overall health, and by helping to develop and progress individualized aerobic exercise programs. 5. Reducing body fat percentage Physiotherapy can reduce body fat percentage by providing education on the importance of maintaining healthy body weight, and by helping to develop and progress individualized exercise and diet programs. In conclusion, physiotherapy can help prevent injuries in children and adolescents by increasing participation in physical activity, improving technique and biomechanics, optimizing strength, power, and flexibility, improving aerobic fitness, and reducing body fat percentage. Physical Activity and Health: Regular physical activity is known to have many health benefits including:
The most common types of injuries in young people are:
Preventing Injuries:
There are a number of things that can be done to prevent injuries in young people, including:
Conclusion: In conclusion, physiotherapy can help prevent injuries in young people by increasing participation in physical activity, improving technique and biomechanics, optimizing strength, power, and flexibility, improving aerobic fitness, and reducing body fat percentage. Regular physical activity is known to have many health benefits, and there are a number of things that can be done to prevent injuries in young people, including wearing the appropriate protective gear, being properly warmed up, and learning and following the proper techniques. If pain or other symptoms occur, it is important to listen to the body and stop the activity. Gradually increasing the intensity, duration, and frequency of physical activity, as well as stretching after activity, can help prevent injuries.
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