ORTHOTICS PROSTHETICS RESEARCH

Growing Pains (Paediatric Leg Pains)

Definition:
A complex condition, but commonly found in children after playing sports or generally after periods of activity.

Symptoms:
Children commonly exhibit pain and stiffness in the calf muscles and during the night they awake crying or complaining of leg pains.

Biomechanical etiology:
Children�s bone structures are generally more flexible and mobile than adults. Therefore, high activity on their feet commonly causes the muscles to over-work and may later cause muscle stiffness and pain.
Treatment:
Softer orthotics like ORTHAHEEL (or VASYLI Custom green and blue orthotics) gently stabilize the many bones and soft tissue structures in children�s feet & lower leg structures. Orthotics assists the alignment of young growing bones and greatly reduces muscle over-use and strain.

Additional treatment: Often growing pains respond well to massage.

Exercises:
� Stretching of the calf muscles

Pediatric Heel Pain (Sever's Disease)

Definition:
Disruption of the growth plates causing inflammation and pain at the back of the heel bone.

Symptoms:
Pain occurs often during or after sporting activity. This condition is common with children between the ages of
8 - 14 years.

Biomechanical etiology:
Many children�s bones (including the heel bone) are not fully developed (ossified) at this age and high activity may disrupt the growth plates causing inflammation and pain. The condition can be quite debilitating and may require complete rest from activity.

Treatment:
Orthotic treatment controls excess pronation of the foot and thereby stabilizes the heel bone and its growth plate.

Exercises:
� Stretching of the calf muscles

Pediatric Knee Pain (Osgood Schlatter�s condition)

Definition:
A similar mechanism to Sever�s Disease, but occurring at the tibial tuberosity.

Symptoms:
Similar to Sever�s Disease, but occuring about the tibial tuberosity.

Biomechanical etiology:
Excess internal tibial rotation associated with excess pronation causes abnormal tractional forces on the insertion of the Patella Tendon, with children aged 8-14 years. This may disrupt the tibial growth plate and the child will experience secondary swelling and pain.

Treatment:
Orthotics control internal rotation of the tibia thereby reducing tractional forces placed on the knee joint and growth plate of the child.

Additional treatment: Ice therapy, rest.