Muscle & Joint Problems (Musculoskeletal)
Perthes Disease
Perthes Disease is a rare condition that affects the hip joint in children between the ages of 4 and 10 years of age. The blood supply to the head of the femur becomes disrupted and this can cause the ball shape of the bone to become misshapen. Children may present with a limp, pain in the groin and stiffness in the affected hip.
Physiotherapy treatment involves managing the pain with rest and modified activity, strengthening and stretching exercises to maintain muscle strength and hip joint mobility, to minimise long term problems. In a small number of more severe cases, surgery may be needed.
