Physical Therapy Care For Perthes Disease
If your child has been diagnosed with Perthes Disease, you may be seeking non-operative care for Perthes’s Disease or in need of post-operative care for a recent surgery to correct Perthes’s Disease – well you have stumbled upon the right place.
Perthes Disease is a condition that affects the hip joint and can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.
There is a lot physical therapy can do to manage the condition, reduce pain and stiffness, improve balance, improve gait, and aid the proper use of walking aids. Also, post-operative physical therapy can reduce post-operative pain and discomfort, and improve range of motion and balance.
What Is The Cause Of Perthes Disease?
Perthes Disease or Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease is a condition characterized by the interruption of the blood supply to the femoral head, causing the bone and cartilage to become necrotic.
Perthes Disease is relatively rare, affecting about one in every 1000 children. Perthes disease occurs when there is a reduction of blood supply to the hip bone (femoral head).
Perthes Disease can affect either one or both sides of the body (15% present with both hips affected). Perthes Disease is most commonly found in boys between the ages of four and eight.
What Are The Symptoms Of Perthes Disease?
The symptoms of Perthes Disease can vary depending on the severity of your condition, but there are some common ways to detect Perthes:
- A limp.
- If pain is present, it is localized to the hip, knee, thigh, or abdomen.
- Hip deformity.
- Pain can worsen with activity.
How Is Perthes Disease Diagnosed?
Your doctor will usually diagnose Perthes Disease by taking your medical history and doing a physical examination. If they suspect Perthes, they may order an X-ray of the hips to confirm the diagnosis.
How We Treat Perthes Disease
The main goal once a diagnosis of Perthes has been confirmed is to prevent any femoral head deformation – that can cause long-term joint issues.
- Main goal: Prevent femoral head deformities.
The subgoals of treatment are to manage symptoms such as pain, reduced range of range, and to avoid hip dislocation or secondary conditions such as hip osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.
- Relief pain (if present).
- Restore range of motion of the hip.
- Promote independent and safe protective and restrictive weight-bearing with a crutch or other assistive device.
- Improve function recovery for normal participation in daily tasks and sporting activities.
There are two options for Perthes Disease, an operative approach, and a non-operative approach.
The approach taken depends on the age of the child, the presence of extrusion of the femoral head, the available range of motion of the hip, and the stage or progression of the disease.
Physical Therapy For Perthes Disease
Physical therapy for children with Perthes is very much focused on the child’s symptoms, particularly in the early stages of the disease, such as pain, stiffness, muscle weakness and muscle spasm. In the early stages, it is also important to prevent femoral head deformity and promote joint health to prevent arthritic changes.
Children may have to alter their weight-bearing, meaning they might need to use a crutch.
A pediatric orthopedic specialist will work with your physical therapist to design the best treatment plan. Some children may require surgery, and some children may need very little intervention. Currently, there is a need for more research into the treatment of Perthes disease.
Post-operative Physical therapy For Perthes Disease
The goals of physical therapy if your child has required surgery include:
- Pain management.
- Restoring ROM.
- Preventing muscle tightness.
- Preventing muscle atrophy or weakness.
- Improve muscle strength.
- Training the child to properly use a crutch and transfer it in daily tasks.
- Improve balance.
Our physical therapist will work with you and your child to design a treatment plan that integrates all these goals, and the needs of your child.
Book Online Today
If you would like a physical therapy consultation for your child who has been diagnosed with Perthes disease or has been experiencing hip pain and has a sudden limp, you can book a consultation with us online or call our us at 01 254 4800.
Visit us in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin Ireland
Our physical therapy & other services extend throughout Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown including Blackrock, Cherrywood, Stillorgan, Rathfarnham, Shankill, Cabinteely, Foxrock, Clonskeagh, and Killiney.
Our office is located just outside of the center of Dun Laoghaire and is between Deansgrange and Monkstown. You can find our building entrance on Lower Mounttown Road, across from Woodland Park. We are a 30-second walk from Dublin Bus stop 2031 which is outside of Mccormick’s Pub.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4292319/
[2] https://www.physio-pedia.com/Legg-Calve-Perthes_Disease
[3] https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/full/10.1302/2633-1462.112.BJO-2020-0138.R1
