Child Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy for Children and Teenagers

Children and teenagers experience aches, pains and injuries just as adults do, but the causes, the way they present, and the best approach to assessment and treatment are often quite different. A growing body, developing coordination, school activities, and increasingly sedentary screen time all play into how a young person's musculoskeletal system behaves. At JW Physio Clinic in Loughton, we see a steady stream of young patients, from primary-school-aged children with posture or coordination concerns through to teenagers training seriously in sport, and we tailor every assessment and treatment plan to the individual child in front of us — not simply a smaller version of an adult approach.

Parents often aren't sure whether a child's complaint is something to bring to a physiotherapist, something to mention to the GP, or something to simply keep an eye on at home. Part of our role is helping families make sense of that question, offering a clear, honest opinion on what's likely going on and what, if anything, needs treating.

Common Conditions We See in Children and Teenagers

Some of the most frequent reasons children and young people are brought to see us include:

• Growing pains — the aches, often in the legs, that can occur during periods of rapid growth, typically worse in the evening or at night and settling with simple reassurance and management, though we always assess to rule out other causes first.
• Sever's disease (calcaneal apophysitis) — heel pain common in active, growing children, particularly those involved in running and jumping sports, related to the growth plate at the back of the heel.
• Sports injuries in young athletes, including ankle sprains, knee pain, overuse injuries from training load, and injuries specific to a particular sport, whether that's football, gymnastics, dance, athletics or swimming.
• Postural issues, often linked to heavy school bags, long periods sitting at a desk, or extended screen time on phones, tablets or games consoles, which can contribute to neck, shoulder and back discomfort in children and teenagers.
• Developmental coordination concerns, where a child appears clumsier than their peers, struggles with certain motor skills, or has difficulty keeping up with activities that involve balance and coordination.
• Post-injury and post-surgical rehabilitation for children and teenagers recovering from fractures, ligament injuries or other conditions requiring a structured, staged return to normal activity and sport.
• Flat feet and lower limb alignment concerns raised by parents or picked up at school, which sometimes need nothing more than reassurance and monitoring, and sometimes benefit from a more active approach.

How a Child's Assessment Differs from an Adult's

Assessing a child is not simply a scaled-down version of an adult assessment. Children communicate differently, may not have the vocabulary to describe exactly where or how something hurts, and can find a clinical environment unfamiliar or a little daunting, particularly on a first visit. Our approach reflects this in several ways.

We adapt our language and explanations to the child's age and understanding, often using simple, concrete descriptions rather than clinical terminology, and we're happy to explain things a second or third time in a different way if something hasn't quite landed. We build in time to let a child settle into the room, meet the physiotherapist, and get comfortable before diving into hands-on assessment, particularly for younger or more anxious children. Sessions are often shorter or broken into smaller segments than a typical adult appointment, reflecting a child's attention span and energy levels, and we're happy to make an appointment more playful or game-like where that helps us get a genuine, natural picture of how a child moves.

Parental involvement is a central part of the process. We rely on parents and carers to help fill in the history — when a pain started, how it's changed, what makes it better or worse, and what a child has said about it at home — since young children in particular may struggle to give this detail unprompted. We also value parents' observations of how their child moves and behaves day to day, which often gives us insight that a single assessment in clinic wouldn't otherwise capture.

What to Expect at Your Child's First Appointment

A first appointment starts with a conversation, involving both you and your child as appropriate to their age, covering the history of the problem, any relevant sporting or activity background, and what you're hoping the appointment will achieve. We then carry out an age-appropriate physical assessment, looking at movement, strength, coordination and the specific area of concern, explaining what we're doing as we go so that neither you nor your child are left wondering what's happening.

At the end of the assessment, we'll talk you through what we think is going on, in plain language, and agree a plan together. For many childhood conditions, this involves simple, practical advice and a home exercise or activity plan rather than a long course of clinic-based treatment; for others, particularly significant sports injuries or coordination concerns, a more structured programme of appointments may be recommended. We're always clear about our reasoning, and happy to answer any questions you or your child have, including ones your child might feel shy asking directly.

A Safe, Supportive Environment

We take the wellbeing of every young patient seriously, and treat all appointments involving children with an appropriately safe, supportive and professional approach. Parents or carers are welcome to remain present throughout their child's assessment and treatment, and we're always happy to explain exactly what an examination will involve before we begin, so both you and your child know what to expect and feel comfortable with the process at every stage.

When to Bring Your Child In, and When to Monitor at Home

Not every ache or pain in a child needs a physiotherapy appointment, and part of our job is helping parents judge the difference with confidence rather than guesswork. Mild, short-lived aches after an active day, particularly in the evening, are common in growing children and often settle with rest, gentle stretching and reassurance. It's generally reasonable to monitor these at home in the first instance.

It's worth booking an assessment if pain persists beyond a couple of weeks, keeps recurring, is limited to one side of the body rather than both, wakes your child from sleep, is accompanied by swelling, redness, warmth or an obvious limp, or follows a specific injury such as a fall, twist or collision during sport. It's also worth seeking an assessment if you're concerned about your child's coordination, balance or posture compared to their peers, even if there's no pain involved, as early guidance can often make a meaningful difference. If your child is ever unable to bear weight following an injury, has visible deformity, or you have any concern about a more serious injury, please seek urgent medical attention via your GP, NHS 111 or A&E rather than waiting for a physiotherapy appointment.

Supporting Young Athletes

Many of the children and teenagers we see are actively involved in sport, whether recreationally or at a more competitive level, and training load, growth spurts and the physical demands of a chosen sport can all contribute to injury risk. We work with young athletes to manage current injuries safely, build strength and control to reduce the risk of further problems, and support a sensible, staged return to training and competition rather than rushing back too soon. Where a young athlete's schedule involves multiple sports or a demanding training programme, we're happy to discuss workload and recovery alongside the specific injury being treated, since these factors are often closely linked.

Posture, School Bags and Screen Time

We're increasingly asked about postural discomfort in children and teenagers, often linked to a combination of heavy school bags, long periods sitting at a desk or on a sofa, and extended time spent on phones, tablets and games consoles. While posture-related discomfort in growing children is rarely a sign of anything serious, it's still worth addressing, both to relieve current symptoms and to help establish better habits going forward. Simple, practical changes — bag positioning and weight, regular movement breaks, and some targeted strengthening exercises — are often enough to make a real difference, and we're happy to give age-appropriate advice that a child can actually understand and stick with, rather than generic guidance aimed at adults.

Coordination and Developmental Concerns

Some parents come to us because they've noticed their child seems less coordinated than other children of a similar age, struggles with specific motor skills, or finds certain physical activities harder than expected. We assess movement, balance and coordination in an age-appropriate, encouraging way, and can offer practical strategies and exercises to help build confidence and ability. Where a broader developmental assessment would be more appropriate, we're happy to discuss this and support you in taking the right next step, whether that's with your GP, school, or a specialist paediatric service.

Working Alongside Parents, Schools and GPs

Treating a child effectively often means looking beyond the clinic room. Where it's useful and with your agreement, we're happy to provide simple written guidance you can share with a school regarding activity modifications, or a brief summary for your GP if further input is needed. We see parents and carers as an essential part of the treatment team, not passive bystanders, and we'll always make sure you leave an appointment understanding what's going on and what you can do to help at home.

Building Confidence, Not Just Treating Symptoms

A significant part of working with children and teenagers is helping them feel confident and in control of their own body, rather than anxious about pain or worried they're somehow "broken." We take time to explain things in a way a child can genuinely understand, using analogies and language suited to their age, and we celebrate small wins along the way — a child managing a exercise they found difficult the week before, or a teenager getting back to light training after an injury. This positive, encouraging approach tends to improve how well children engage with a home exercise programme, which in turn supports better and faster outcomes than an approach that focuses purely on the clinical problem in isolation.

For teenagers in particular, there's often a balance to strike between involving parents in decisions and respecting a young person's growing independence and their own understanding of their body. We try to speak directly to teenagers about their symptoms and goals, checking in with parents as appropriate, so that a teenager feels heard and respected rather than talked over, while parents remain properly informed and involved in decisions about their child's care.

Common Questions Parents Ask

Beyond the specific FAQs below, parents often ask a similar set of underlying questions when considering physiotherapy for their child. Many want to know whether a particular pain is "normal" for a growing child, or whether it warrants concern — and while we can't give a blanket answer that applies to every case, an assessment gives us the chance to look at your child's specific situation and offer a clear, honest opinion rather than vague reassurance. Others ask whether it's safe for their child to keep playing sport while being treated, which very much depends on the specific injury and stage of recovery; we'll always give clear, practical guidance rather than a blanket "stop everything" or "carry on regardless" answer, since neither extreme usually serves a young, active child well.

Parents also frequently ask how they can help between appointments. In most cases, this comes down to consistency with any home exercises set, sensible activity modification where advised, and simply keeping an eye on how symptoms are trending — improving, staying the same, or getting worse — so we can adjust the plan at the next appointment if needed. We're always happy to answer questions by phone or email between visits if something changes or you're unsure how to proceed with a particular activity.

Supporting the Whole Family

Bringing a child to physiotherapy is often a new experience for the whole family, and we try to make the practical side of things as straightforward as possible, from flexible appointment scheduling around school and activity commitments, to clear, jargon-free explanations that don't leave you googling terms after you get home. We know that a worried parent often just wants a straight answer about what's wrong and what to do about it, and we aim to give you exactly that, alongside the reassurance and support needed to help your child feel comfortable throughout their treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions