The Musculoskeletal Clinic for Children

Specialising in the treatment of children in pain

Advice

Diagnosis

Prevention

Philosophy

To support the family and empower the young person, through musculoskeletal assessment, treatment and advice, to achieve their full potential in all activities. To improve function and reduce pain. To give the young person the ability and confidence to live an active life even in the presence of on-going pain.

Sue Maillard

Highly Specialised Physiotherapist

After qualifying from St Mary’s Paddington in 1989, Sue worked at Northwick Park Hospital and then Great Ormond Street Hospital as a Clinical Specialist Physioherapist (Band 8) in the Paediatric Rheumatology department and with the Pain Team. Working daily with these teams, Sue assesses young people and manages a wide range of MSK and pain conditions. Sue gained an MSc degree and published her thesis on the safety of physiotherapy in Juvenile Dermatomyositis – work that revolutionised how this group of children should be managed physically. Sue presents internationally several times a year and regularly contributes to peer-review journals and key textbooks.

Dr Jill Thirkettle

Specialist Podiatrist / Senior Lecturer

Jill has specialised in the management of childhood foot problems for the past 25 years. She has worked for the NHS and privately and currently works within the paediatric rheumatology department at GOSH, specialising in foot problems in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and hypermobility syndromes. Jill is also a senior lecturer at the University of East London, presents both nationally and internationally as well as contributing to peer-review journals.

Appointments with other professionals such as Occupational Therapy and Psychology, who also work closely with the team, can be arranged when required.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in children include a wide range of problems affecting the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. These may be established conditions that the child was born with or be conditions that develop during childhood. They may be complex conditions affecting the whole body such as the skeletal dysplasias or joint hypermobility, or they may affect single areas such irritable hip, traction of growth plates or related to a poor limb alignment such as flat feet.

Typically, musculoskeletal conditions will affect the normal movements of the child and impact on their ability to undertake the normal activities of childhood. They often result in a reluctance to walk or difficulties in sporting activities, muscle or joint soreness, night cramps and fatigue.

The clinic can provide specialist services for:

Inflammatory joint diseases in children including Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Vasculitis.

Musculoskeletal pain conditions including complex regional pain syndrome, widespread musculoskeletal pain, chronic fatigue.

Localised pain conditions such as nocturnal idiopathic pain syndrome (aka. growing pains), back pain, hip pain, knee pain and foot pain.

Activity-related injuries / symptoms such as recurrent lateral ankle sprains, joint dislocations / subluxations, reduced activity levels and limitations.

Hypermobility syndromes such as Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, Ehlers Danlos syndrome, Marfan Syndrome.