What is Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy?

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Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession with a science foundation. The range of work is very broad and varied and involves working with people to promote their own health and well being. Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy is the term used to describe the field of physiotherapy that relates to disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The term Musculoskeletal refers to the muscles, bones, joints, nerves, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and spinal discs.

 

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy helps restore movement and function to as near normal as possible when someone is affected by injury, illness or by developmental or other disability, utilising the basic sciences of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics.

 

Approaches to treatment do more than just alleviate pain and involve not only ' manipulation' but also manual assessment and treatment techniques, specific therapeutic exercise, electrotherapy such as laser therapy, ultrasound, NMES,  advice on posture and ergonomics all which can be used to improve movement and prevent the problem reoccurring.

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What can a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Treat?

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The most common problems treated by a musculoskeletal physiotherapist include:

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• Sports injuries: Muscle tears, ligament and joint strains, cartilage damage and tendon problems all improve more rapidly and effectively with physiotherapy. Early treatment minimises pain, swelling and tissue damage, prevents stiffness and ensures a quicker return to sport and other activities

• Shoulder pain and injuries : There are many problems that can affect this area and limit everyday functions, including frozen shoulder, arthritis and impingement. It is often important to examine and correct functional patterns in this region to alleviate pain and prevent reoccurrence

• Knee pain : Knee pain is extremely common and can affect people of any age.  Arthritis, general wear and tear and sports injuries are common

• Fractures and dislocation : Physiotherapy acts to increase the healing rate and help restore full function once the bones have healed

• Back pain and sciatica : Back pain and sciatica can take many forms. The most common causes are joint and disc damage, wear and tear, prolapsed discs and strains caused by poor movement patterns and poor muscular stability. Sciatica refers to neural pain that is felt down the leg and is caused by a problem with the back

• Neck pain and Headaches : Pains in the neck, head, face and shoulder are often caused by problems in joints, nerves and muscles in the neck. Problems in the neck can also cause referred pain into the arm and hands.

• Work related problems : Periods of long sitting at a desk can cause pain in the neck and back. A lack of movement and activity can also make the nerves in the arms and hand very sensitive and result in pain in these areas

• Post Surgery Rehabilitation - Orthopaedic or Neurological

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Manual treatment is obviously a large part of my work as a Chartered Physiotherapist, with the purpose to restore and maintain mobility, function, independence and performance of my clients.

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My physiotherapy electrotherapy equipment includes an ultrasound, which has been proved to be effective in tendon and ligament injuries to accelerate / improve healing, as well as on general soft tissue injuries; a low level light laser, again for tissue healing but also for pain relief, trigger points, soft tissue injuries, and especially on open wound healing. I am also equipped with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) and Neuro-muscular Electrical stimulators (NMES) machines which can be loaned if required.