Young patients who don't do their exercises tend to be one of the biggest challenges for physiotherapists, and a University of Alberta study reveals some of the reasons why.
Lack of time—and fun—are two of the main reasons kids with musculoskeletal conditions such as scoliosis, juvenile arthritis and sports injuries tend to shrug off their exercises, according to the research, published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
Physiotherapists need to keep those and other factors in mind when prescribing treatment plans to help youngsters work out their aches and pains, said Chris Holt, who led the study for his master's degree in Rehabilitation Science in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
"It shows we need to take a different approach with kids, based on some of the challenges that are unique to them."
Holt wanted to explore the reasons after he and other physiotherapists found some of their young patients reluctant to do their exercises.
"We could come up with good treatment plans for kids in pain, but they weren't sticking to the plan and if they didn't actually complete the exercise, it wouldn't help them out."
