Gelisim News

The body adaptation process in children starts with puberty. Physiotherapist İlknur Atkın, stating that this process affects both families and children, said that the changes in the body bring new problems and differences in each child psychologically and physically. Mentioning that bone and muscle tissues develop rapidly and increase in length occurs at the stage where development reaches the maximum point in adolescence, Physiotherapist İlknur Atkın added: “During getting longer, the child's psychology, quality of life and social status are involved as a factor. The biggest complaint of children to families is especially the growth pain in this period.”

Pointing out that the complaints of growth pain increase especially at night enough to wake children up, Lecturer İlknur Atkın from Istanbul Gelisim University continued: “Diagnosis is made after parents have their children seen the doctor and have them examined. In these pains, which are mostly confused with rheumatic diseases, a complete and accurate diagnosis is made by the tests performed by the physician. Nowadays, these complaints have increased because technology pushes children into an inactive life. As children are constantly on the computer or tablet, their muscle and bone development is negatively affected. Therefore, medication and exercise program prescribed by a physician is recommended for our children suffering from growth pain.”

Giving advices to minimize the painful period, Atkın said: “Physiotherapists plan a regular exercise program that includes stretching exercises and jogging in fresh air for muscle relaxation to the children who suffer from the growth pain and the process is monitored by the physiotherapists. During this period, the physiotherapist makes the necessary evaluations while bringing the child in on the sport and exercise and the sport, and any kind of sports is included in the process according to the child’s hobbies. Especially the participation of parents in these activities enables us to achieve higher quality and better results.”

Emphasizing that the development continues since the growth plates keep open during adolescence, and therefore very heavy and incorrect exercise programs should be avoided, Atkın spoke: “It was demonstrated that the children are more comfortable in their sleep during the night with the medication prescribed by the doctor and the exercise program planned by the physiotherapist. Insomnia and pains psychologically affect the child. Aggressive acts and exhaustion can occur. This situation affecting the child also has negative effects on the social situations such as family, school and friends. Parents and children should raise awareness of the fact that these pains are in the normal developmental process and that there is nothing to be afraid of. As a result of the pains, it is not right act to change anything in the child's social life. The child should go to school and maintain her/his social life. They should include exercise and regular walks in their lifestyle and get rid of the inactive life of theirs and maintain their social life.”

Saying that massages in these painful periods relax muscles, Atkın ended her speech: “In these massages performed by professionals, positive results are obtained with a conscience of the developmental processes and when it is anatomically correct to do. When all the factors such as medicine, exercise and massage are applied to the children at the same time, they can overcome this period more easily. A better quality of life can be maintained when the parents and children act together psychologically.”