Conditions
Low Back Pain
Neck Pain
Painful joints/Arthritis
Ankle sprains
Frozen Shoulder
Headaches
Knee Ligaments
Knee Cartilage
Sciatica
Shoulder Instability
Shoulder tendonitis
Tennis/Golfers elbow
Whiplash
Wrist Strains
Foot pain
The conditions we treat are listed below.
Low Back Pain
Some 80 % of us will experience low back pain at some time in our life. Low back pain episodes normally settle within one month. However, if you are off work and/or your back pain is not improving then it is important to be assessed by a Chartered Physiotherapist to manage your back pain early and seek the most appropriate advice.
Neck Pain
The neck has a significant amount of motion and supports the weight of the head. However, because it is less protected than the rest of the spine, the neck can be vulnerable to injury and disorders that produce pain and restrict motion. For many people, neck pain is a temporary condition that disappears with time. Others need medical diagnosis and treatment to relieve their symptoms.
Painful joints/Arthritis
Joints in the back or the limbs can be achy for a number of different reasons. If you develop aching in a number of joints at the same time, you should seek the advice of your GP. However, aching in one joint only may be associated with posture, repetitive strain or low grade osteoarthritis. Thorough assessment by your physiotherapist will help identify the cause of the problem and identify ways to reduce or resolve your pain.
Ankle sprains
The term "ankle sprain" is usually used to describe injury to one or a number of the ligaments around the ankle. This can be a minor injury or a more serious ligament rupture. More serious ankle sprains can take as long as a broken ankle to recover and need specific strengthening and balance exercises in order to recover fully.
Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a condition where the shoulder capsule becomes restricted and tight. It is a painful condition which leads to considerable restriction of movement of the arm. It is not clearly understood why it occurs but in most cases will resolve over 8-24 months. However, physiotherapy can help to reduce the pain and stiffness over this time.
Headaches
Headaches are commonly felt at the front, temple or back of the head and may be caused by stiffness in the joints and muscle of the neck. These can be treated very effectively with physiotherapy.
Knee ligaments
There are four major ligaments in the knee. There are two Cruciate ligaments deep in the knee, and two Collateral ligaments at the side of the knee. Injury to any of these ligaments is painful and will often lead to swelling, stiffness and knee instability. It is essential that the knee is assessed fully to rule out any ligament rupture. Physiotherapy will help you recover knee movement, strength and stability in the knee.
Knee cartilages
All joint surfaces are covered in articular cartilage. However, the knee has two important shock absorbers in the knee- the Menisci - which are often referred to as the knee cartilage. These can be bruised or torn. The knee should be carefully assessed and monitored during rehabilitation to ensure that normal recovery is being made. If this is not the case, your physiotherapist will recommend an orthopaedic surgeons opinion.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a term often used to describe leg pain, which is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. It is important to note that the Sciatic nerve is rarely trapped, but simply irritated or inflamed by a mechanical or chemical irritant. As a result, symptoms will usually improve with the correct assessment and treatment.
Shoulder instability
The shoulder is a very mobile joint due to the shape of its' articular surfaces. We all have varying degrees of mobility in our shoulders. Some people have too much flexibility, either due to their genetic make-up, or because they have injured the shoulder. This can lead to a sense of instability in the shoulder or, at worse, problems with dislocation. Shoulder instability can be treated very effectively with strengthening work.
Shoulder tendonitis
The shoulder is a very mobile joint which relies on deep tendons to provide stability and strength. These are known as the rotator cuff tendons and the tendon of the long head of biceps. The tendons are prone to inflammation (tendonitis) caused by repetitive strain or trauma.
Tennis/Golfers elbow
Tennis and golfers elbow are terms used to describe pain arising from the outside (tennis) or inside (golfers) elbow, usually as a result of over-strain of the muscles of the forearm.
Whiplash
Whiplash is not a diagnosis but a term used to describe any number of neck and back symptoms which result from a road traffic accident or other high velocity injury such as a fall
Wrist strains
The wrist is a complex structure made up of several small bones, the ligaments holding them together, the shock absorbing disc in the main wrist joint, and the tendons that pass over the joints. Any of these structures can be strained during sporting activity or through repetitive work activities.
Foot Pain
Most common conditions of the foot that result from poor foot function include;
• Plantarfascitis
• Heel spurs (Heel Pain)
• Achilles tendonitis (Rear Foot pain)
• Metatarsalgia (Forefoot pain)
• Bunion (Big Toe Pain)
• Arthritis of the Foot
• Tired/aching feet/legs
• Tibial Stress syndrome (Shin splints)
• Pes Planus (Flat Feet)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis