A Word On Medical Matters – Talk Radio 702

I’ll be back again as a guest expert on Talk Radio 702 & 567 Cape Talk on Tuesday Feb 17.

The programme is called ‘A Word on Medical Matters’ anchored by Leigh Bennie with host Prof. Harry Seftel and is broadcast starting from 19.00 -20.30.

It’s a live phone-in, plus replies to text massages and emails so this is your opportunity to get the latest current advice if you have any pressing problems.

Traction Apophysitis-feedback

Here’s some feedback on the boy with the traction apophysitis. Did you think the overuse was extreme? What did you think of the training routine?

Firstly, he has wonderful parents! They have followed  my advice to wear shoes and avoid all activities that cause stretching of the Achilles tendon. Secondly,they have been surfing the Internet to find out more about the condition. They showed the youngster pictures and explained the reasons why he has to take it easy. This means that he understands that time spent recovering now will enable him to participate again when the condition settles. Thirdly, they have stopped all sport at school.

Fourthly and this is the best bit. His father tells me that he asked his son to rate the pain. If the pain was rated as a 10 when he saw the podiatrist what is the rating today? About 2 or 3 says the boy.

In our sports mad country its refreshing to get such team work going.

At this stage it is imposible to say how long healing  will take, but the initial response of the foot to simple rest and supportive footwear is encouraging. Rehabilitation will be very important; in the form of stretching very carefully, accompanied by orthotics or simple insoles.

Traction apophysitis does heal and all the better it seems with lots of TLC (Tender Loving Care).

Keep looking for the full case history – its nearly finished

P.S. Tune in to Talk Radio 702 17 February 19.00

A Sports Injury or Child Abuse?

How much sport is enough for a child? When does too much sport become abuse? Is an over-use injury at a young age, in the pursuit of excellence worth the possible long-term consequences? Consider this:

Last week, an 8 year old boy, barely able to walk, was brought to see me by his mother. He had a severe limp, walking with his foot out and his ankle stiff, to reduce the pain. Three days previously he had spent nearly 5 hours doing athletics at school. His mother told me that the initial pain began more than 6 months ago, after he had played a lot of rugby.

The school under 8 team had been very successful, winning their area age group, so had a long season. Then he moved up an age group to under 9 which extended the season further. Nevertheless he continued with all sports, despite the pain and the fact that he was not running as fast as before. A compounding factor is that athletics and rugby are both done barefoot.

The timetable of sports reads like that of a professional adult, with daily practice depending on the sport and season, with inevitable overlap; plus the fact that the school plays some sports out of season as well.

• Athletics: 1 hour a day, x 5 days, plus meetings
• Cricket: 1 & half hours a day x 5 days, plus club games on Saturdays for a university club junior side
• Rugby: 1 hour a day x 5 days, plus matches

The boy is obviously very good at his sports and according to his mother is always active at home whilst playing. However, this timetable with an injury would cripple most adults.

So what’s the point? How far must we/should we push or allow our children in pursuit of sporting excellence? We try to teach balance in most aspects of life, sleep, study, money etc., but when it comes to sport we seem to make up the rules as we go along.

After requesting X-rays of both feet and discussing them and my diagnosis with two different medical colleagues, it was agreed that the cause of the pain is damage to the growing part of the back of the heel bone, where the Achilles tendon inserts. Clinically called a Traction Apophysitis.

The initial treatment is rest and avoiding any vigorous activity that causes the Achilles tendon to pull on the heel bone. Raising the heel or possibly orthotics may help.

So ask yourself the question – is this youngster suffering an over-use injury or child abuse or both?

A full Case History will be posted during this week.