Physiotherapists in Reading treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

Supraspinatus Tendonitis of the Shoulder

The shoulder joint is controlled by a group of muscles known as the rotator cuff which originate from the scapula or shoulder blade and travel outwards until they become tendons and insert into the top of the arm bone. The cuff stabilises and holds the large ball of the arm bone in place on the small socket as the shoulder goes through its very large range of motion. Without the rotator cuff the large and powerful deltoid muscle would just pull the shoulder area upwards rather than lift the arm above the head. The supraspinatus muscle is one of the cuff group and its tendon runs just underneath the bony arch above the arm bone to attach to the outside.

If the shoulder is used repetitively for an unaccustomed activity the tendon can impinge on the bony arch above and become inflamed and painful. This is supraspinatus tendonitis, a condition which can be acutely painful or more chronically restricting for the use of the shoulder. Physiotherapy treatment consists of ultrasound or frictions to the tender area and correction of any shoulder muscle imbalances. Further treatment includes corticosteroid injections to reduce the inflammation and if severe enough, investigation to look for rotator cuff tendon tears.

Total Knee Replacement

Joint replacement is one of the most successful medical technical interventions with the highest quality of life improvements of any treatments. The most common reason for having a knee replacement is the occurrence of osteoarthritis, the typical age related joint change which occurs in many millions of people around the world. Osteoarthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, gradually increasing loss of range of movement and difficulties with walking, climbing stairs and rising from sitting. If conservative treatments are not successful and there is significant disability associated with continual pain and difficult sleeping then joint replacement may be considered.

In knee replacement the joint surfaces are replaced by stainless steels components and a plastic liner is inserted between them and on the back of the patella. The operation takes up to two hours and the person is typically seen and mobilised up into standing or walking the next day by the physiotherapist and an assistant. Rehabilitation with the physios is now very important, with exercise practice, gait supervision and functional activities. Length of stay in hospital varies between three and seven days with routine referral to physiotherapy on discharge to work on range of movement and strength.