Neck pain is very common and may occur due to injury, sustained poor posture such as prolonged computer use or general wear and tear. Sometimes the pain may be referred into the arm or hand due to irritation of the nerves in the neck. Headaches can also be due to stiffness or increased muscle tension in the neck and upper back. During your first physiotherapy appointment we can identify the tissues causing your pain and plan appropriate treatment.

Whiplash is caused by a sudden uncontrolled movement of the head, neck and upper body. It usually occurs during a road traffic accident (RTA) but can also be caused by falls or sporting injury. Permanent damage is rare and the long-term outlook is good. Whiplash injuries can be very painful but are usually not serious. Symptoms of pain and stiffness can occur in the neck and back and usually develop a day or two after the accident or injury. Headaches are common after whiplash and may be due to associated muscle tension. Other symptoms may include dizziness, tinnitus and nausea.
The severe pain usually improves within the first few weeks after the injury. Your doctor may initially prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatories to help your symptoms. A return to active movement and normal function is advised as soon as possible. Physiotherapy techniques such as gentle mobilisation, specific exercises and acupuncture can help to reduce pain and restore function.

The shoulder is a complex but mobile joint comprised of the upper arm (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula) and collar bone (clavicle). Because it is a flexible joint, the muscles and other soft tissues around the shoulder are very important in maintaining stability and function. Problems may arise if there is damage or inflammation to any of the structures. Rotator cuff pathology, tendinopathy, impingement syndrome, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), osteoarthritis and fractures or surgery can all cause pain, stiffness and reduced function. Shoulder pain can also be referred pain from the neck. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in diagnosing and rehabilitating shoulder problems.

‘Tennis elbow’ and ‘golfers elbow’ are both painful elbow conditions that are regularly treated by physiotherapy. Golfers elbow causes pain on the inside of the elbow while tennis elbow affects the outer part of the elbow. They are usually due to overuse of the forearm muscles during tasks that include gripping or repetitive movement such as keyboard or mouse use. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, weakness and an inability to grip.

Physiotherapy treatment and advice can dramatically reduce the painful symptoms of golfers and tennis elbow. Treatment may include mobilisation of joints and soft tissues, electrotherapy or acupuncture. A progressive eccentric strengthening programme can be very effective.

There are many conditions which can affect the wrist and hand such as ‘trigger finger’, de Quervains tenosynovitis and ligament damage.

Physiotherapists are skilled in assessing these conditions to give you a diagnosis, treatment and management plan. This may include mobilisation of the joints and soft tissues, the use of resting splints, electrotherapy, stretching programme and advice on activity modification.

Back pain is very common and is not usually a sign of a serious medical condition. There are many structures in the spine such as vertebrae (bones), discs, ligaments and muscles which can cause pain. Early assessment and treatment is important to promote prompt recovery and return to normal activities. Back pain responds well to regular exercise and staying active. As well as treating your symptoms your physiotherapist will advise you on the most appropriate types of exercise and activity for you.

Back pain may sometimes be associated with referred pain into your leg(s). This pain may be felt anywhere in the leg from your buttock to your toes.

Other symptoms of sciatica may include tingling or numbness in the leg or foot. Sciatica is due to irritation of the sciatic nerve. If you lose bladder or bowel control, please see your doctor urgently.

Core stability refers to the ability of the muscles in your trunk (abdominal and back muscles, pelvic floor and diaphragm) to provide stability in your body while you are moving. Weakness, tight muscles, injury or periods of inactivity may contribute to an ‘imbalance’ in the trunk or pelvis which can in turn lead to pain. Physiotherapists are able to effectively assess any imbalance and help you address this. Pilates is an excellent way of improving flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance and puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, coordination and balance.

Hip and groin pain can have a significant impact on your daily life affecting activities like walking, going up and down stairs, putting on socks and shoes and sleep as well as limiting your exercise or sporting ability. There are a vast range of conditions affecting the hip and groin for example, osteoarthritis, femoroacetabular impingement, bursitis, adductor muscle strains and hernias. Your Physiotherapist can help you address the cause as well as providing treatment and advice on improving mobility and strength of the hip and core stability.

Ligament injuries are graded between grade I (minor strain) to grade IV (large tear). By undertaking a thorough history and a full examination of the knee the physiotherapist is able to assess the degree of damage to these stabilising ligaments. Physiotherapy treatment is guided by the degree of the strain/tear and is aimed at regaining stability and reducing pain. The physiotherapist will advise on an individualised rehabilitation schedule to suit your sporting and daily activity levels. If the injury is severe a referral to an orthopaedic specialist may be required.

An anterior cruciate ligament repair is a surgical procedure usually carried out as a result of a rupture to the ligament caused by injury. A contact injury usually results in multi ligament injury. An ACL reconstruction is carried out to replace the torn ligament usually using part of your own hamstring tendon. Following the surgery physiotherapy is aimed at reducing swelling, restoring movement and strengthening the muscles around the knee and trunk in order to regain full function, weight bearing and mobility.

Physiotherapy lasts for between 6 and 10 weeks. You will be advised on a self management programme including gym exercise when appropriate. Active return to sport is usually around 6-12 months after the surgery. Physiotherapy is key to achieving your functional goals.

The menisci (cartilage) in the knee joint sit between the femur (thigh) and tibia (shin). The menisci are integral to knee joint health. Their function includes transmitting loads across the knee joint, providing stability to the knee, shock absorption and joint lubrication and nutrition.

Injuries to a meniscus are usually the result of a high force trauma, but may also follow a low force trauma although this is more likely to happen in a meniscus that already has undergone some degenerative change. During the injury a popping sensation may be felt. Symptoms of a meniscal tear include pain, swelling, inability to fully straighten the knee, loss of movement, locking, catching, the knee giving way and weakness.

Surgical techniques focus on preservation of the cartilage and repair if possible. This is usually done through an arthroscopy – keyhole surgery. Not all meniscal injuries require surgery.

Recovery after the surgery is highly dependent on the specific procedure used. In general if the damaged cartilage is removed the recovery time is quicker than if the cartilage is repaired – healing time for a repair is longer. Physiotherapy is an important part of the post-surgery rehabilitation and is aimed at regaining movement, strength, function, balance and stability.

The foot and ankle are made up of a complex structure of bones supported by ligaments, tendons and muscles. While foot and ankle injuries are common in sports people they may also be sustained during relatively minor trips or falls or through repetitive action. Sprains, tendinitis, bursitis and plantar fasciitis are all conditions which can be treated with physiotherapy as well as rehabilitation following fractures, surgery or periods of immobilisation.

Most fractures need a period of immobilisation to allow the bones to heal. However side effects from this include stiffness, loss of muscle strength, pain, loss of co-ordination or balance, decrease in physical activity levels and over-use of the uninjured limb or joints. Physiotherapy is aimed at addressing your specific limitations to regain movement and function as soon as possible.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition which is characterised by loss of joint cartilage. Subsequently there is an increase in local bone formation around the joint. These bony formations are known as osteophytes or spurs. Symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking and swelling. The joints most commonly affected are the knees, hips, back and neck, big toes and hands.

In some cases joint replacement may be appropriate. Treatment will involve a combination of exercise, lifestyle modification, analgesics and weight management. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends exercise as the principal treatment for osteoarthritis which helps relieve pain, maintain function and improve joint mobility. Physiotherapy can provide effective individualised treatment for your condition and may involve strength, stability and mobility. Other physiotherapy techniques may be used to relieve the pain for example acupuncture or electrotherapy.

The most commonly replaced joints are the hip and knee. The joint may need to be replaced as a result of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, following fractures or injuries or bone disease.

Physiotherapy is extremely important in the overall outcome of any joint replacement surgery. Physiotherapy may be started prior to the surgery to build up muscle strength or increase flexibility.

During a hip replacement the damaged hip joint is replaced with prosthetic implants. A total hip replacement (THR) replaces both the femoral head (ball of the ball and socket joint) and the acetabulum (cup of the ball and socket joint). A hemiarthroplasty generally only replaces the femoral head (ball of the ball and socket).

The aims of physiotherapy following hip replacement are to prevent contractures (stiffening), improve range of movement at the joint, to strengthen the muscles, advice on appropriate walking aids and gait re-education as well as giving appropriate exercises and functional goals.

Hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful joint surgeries performed with the prosthesis lasting at least 15 years in 95% of patients. Long term results have been improving dramatically with new devices and techniques and look likely to continue to improve.

Knee replacement, or knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint to relieve pain and disability. It is most commonly performed for osteoarthritis. Knee replacement surgery can be performed as a partial or a total knee replacement. In general, the surgery consists of replacing the diseased or damaged joint surfaces of the knee with metal and plastic components shaped to allow movement and function of the knee.

Following the operation there is typically substantial postoperative pain. Physiotherapy concentrates on relieving the pain, improving movement and regaining function. The recovery period is at least 6 weeks and may be much longer.

Sport and regular exercise are good for your health but can sometimes result in injuries. The typical symptoms from a sports injury are pain, swelling and restricted movements. Affected tissues can include muscles, ligaments, tendons or cartilage.

If you have suffered a sports injury it is important to allow your body time to recover. Continuing to exercise while you’re injured may cause further damage and delay healing. Sports injuries can often be treated at home with rest and over-the-counter painkillers but you would also benefit from physiotherapy. Your physiotherapist will diagnose the problem and give you advice on appropriate exercise and return to activity as well as treating the condition to help speed the recovery process. See also Strains and Sprains.

A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon and is often known as a pulled muscle. If the muscle or tendon is overstretched some of the muscle fibres may tear, for example a pulled hamstring while running.

Physiotherapy is an important part of the recovery process and is aimed at restoring function to the injured area. Electrotherapy may be used to help the healing process and acupuncture can be helpful in relieving pain and promoting the muscle healing. Following the initial acute stage your physiotherapist will advise you on a strengthening programme to regain full function. A sprain is an injury to the ligament. Ligaments are tough fibrous tissue connecting bone to bone. If the ligament is stretched beyond its normal capacity some of the ligament fibres may tear. A common example of a ligament sprain is twisting the foot inwards causing a sprain of the ankle ligament.

Symptoms of a sprain may include pain, swelling, bruising and a decreased ability to move the affected limb or joint Physiotherapy is important in the management of sprains. Prolonged immobilisation delays the healing of a sprain and will cause muscle weakness and stiffness in the joint. Physiotherapy will involve assessment of the injury to give a specific diagnosis, treatment to increase the range of motion and progressive muscle strengthening. Sometimes the joint may need to be supported by taping or bracing to allow healing and recovery. In cases of complete tear, bracing or sometimes surgery are needed.

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones. Each bone is made up of a thick outer layer and strong internal ‘struts’. With osteoporosis the inner struts become thin causing the bone structure to weaken and become more likely to fracture.

Having osteoporosis does not mean that your bones will break but that you have a greater risk of fracture. The wrist, hip and spine are most commonly affected by osteoporotic fractures. The role of the physiotherapist is to encourage physical activity and teach exercises which can in turn help maintain bone strength. Treatment is also advised to aid recovery from a fracture.

A healthy balanced diet which provides the recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D is recommended.

Upper limb pain caused by overuse or work has many names in the UK including upper limb disorder (ULD), work related upper limb disorder (WRULD) or repetitive strain injury (RSI). It covers symptoms experienced in the head, neck, shoulder, arm, forearm, elbow, wrist, fingers and thumb. Symptoms may include pains, ache, stiffness, weakness, tingling and numbness usually on one side but could also affect both sides.

Upper limb disorder symptoms can be due to a variety of activities, for example poor sitting posture while working on a computer, a manual job where heavy loads or repetitive actions are involved or by smaller fine movements as in the hand.

Making changes to your way of working can considerably improve symptoms. Try to avoid repeated actions and uncomfortable or sustained positions and decrease the use of force. Your physiotherapist will be able to assess and treat your symptoms as well as identifying your risk factors and guiding you and your employer on how you can make the appropriate changes.

There are a whole range of surgical conditions after which physiotherapy is beneficial, if not essential. The most common types of surgery which require physiotherapy are orthopaedic procedures such as joint replacement or ligament repair.

If you are unsure whether physiotherapy is required please discuss this with your consultant or speak to the physiotherapist.

The pelvic floor is a muscle that runs from your pubic bone at the front to the base of your spine at the back. It is shaped like a sling to hold your pelvic organs (uterus, vagina, bowel and bladder) in place. The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and bowel and give you control when you urinate. They relax at the same time as the bladder contracts (tightens) to let urine out. Keeping pelvic floor muscles strong As you get older, your pelvic floor muscles get weaker.

Women who have had children may also have weaker pelvic floor muscles. Weakened pelvic muscles can cause problems, such as urinary incontinence (being unable to control when you pass urine) and reduced sensitivity (feeling) during sex.

There is also a risk of pelvic organ prolapse, where there is bulging of one or more of the pelvic organs into the vagina. Stress incontinence is a type of urinary incontinence where small amounts of urine leak out during an activity. Doing pelvic floor exercises can help improve stress incontinence by keeping your pelvic muscles strong. Physiotherapy can help by providing exercises, advice and education to improve the function of the pelvic floor.