Youth female athletes have unique needs. At Instil Physio, I have the knowledge and skills to support youth athletes with their injury rehab and performance care.
Lifelong athlete development requires a holistic approach that considers the physical development of youth athletes in addition to their mental, cognitive and emotional development. The pelvic and skeletal bones typically reach maturity between the ages of 17 and 25 years, while the neurological system is not fully developed until age 25. This presents a large window of opportunity in which intervention can have significant positive impacts on long term sports participation. Female athletes also experience physical and hormonal changes during puberty that affect pelvic health, strength, coordination and mental health. These changes need to be considered when addressing injuries and pain problems.
Some common injuries in youth female athletes include:
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knee pain (patellofemoral pain syndrome)
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heel pain (sever's disease)
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shoulder pain (instability)
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ankle sprains
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stress fractures
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back pain (non specific, spondylolysis)
These are just a few and is not an exhaustive list.
Female youth athletes also face challenges with body image, eating disorders, lower energy availability (REDs) and this is important to screen for and address if present. These affect health, mental health, injuries and performance.
At Instil Physio I provide
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An integrative rehabilitation of sports related injuries
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A plan for injury prevention and optimization of sports performance
I always aim to empower young athletes by providing them with the knowledge needed to make healthy choices as they navigate their athletic careers. Athletes will learn about their body and the biomechanics of their sport in order to keep them feeling good and moving well.
In addition to the rehabilitation of current injuries, I also focus on injury prevention and performance enhancement. Whether your athlete is injured or not, physiotherapy can help them identify areas of dysfunction and develop the foundations necessary for optimal performance and athletic longevity. From ages 10-14, females grow rapidly and movements can become uncoordinated. This window presents an ideal time to instil foundational movement patterns, treat dysfunction and prevent injuries.