Non Surgical Treatment

Physiotherapy is an important part of non surgical treatment, with your consultant providing guidance to the team.

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Joint injury, or discomfort can be misleading, with the subtle interactions evolution has given us. Accurate diagnosis can come from a visit to an orthopaedic consultant for a detailed clinical assessment, which will often include x-rays or an MRI scan.

Although full, or partial joint replacement, or keyhole surgery will be required in a proportion of cases, a consultant will always look at alternatives. With the body's ability to realign and strengthen itself, physiotherapy can achieve so much, along with appropriate medication.

Injections To The Knee

An injection into your knee is often highly beneficial and is carried out with care in the outpatient department. It takes just a few minutes and is no more uncomfortable than having a blood test.

The primary medication used is corticosteroids, to reduce pain and inflammation. There can be a range of conditions which will benefit, with osteoarthritis a common reason for treatment, more than 10% of our population over 60 suffer from this.

Individual Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can be remarkably effective in strengthening the knee and hip muscles, optimising the way they work. It is a vital addition to all forms of surgical, or non surgical orthopaedic treatment.

Input from a physiotherapist must be tailored to your diagnosis and unique physical needs. These can arise from damage to a joint, or surrounding tissue, or from osteoarthritis, physiotherapy is effective for both.

Physiotherapists are rightly renowned for helping sports stars recover and perform at their best but they can do the same for all of us. A low impact exercise programme may make just as much positive impact on our quality of life in our 70s and 80s as in our younger days.

Strengthening the quadriceps and hamstring muscles in your leg will help reduce pain and increase mobility. Flexibility and joint support can be improved by working on other muscles and soft tissues.

A good physiotherapist will also help you to identify activities you should avoid, or approach in a different way. Your body can be gradually realigned, to decrease joint stress, reduce pain and increase mobility.

Achieving Your Goal

There are other areas an orthopaedic consultant, or physiotherapist can advise on. For example, the shoes you wear may matter and weight loss could significantly reduce the forces on your joints. This rarely has a downside, neither does professionally managed physiotherapy.

Using all avenues in conjunction is often the best solution, to improving mobility and your ability to enjoy life without surgery. By all means contact us for advice, or to visit a consultant.