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

Joint Position Sense (JPS)

Joint position sense, also called proprioception, is the ability of the brain to sense the positions of the joints and segments of the body and the degree of muscle contraction being exerted at any point in time. It is a precise sense and we rely on it to move about accurately, with loss of the JPS causing us significant difficulties. The brain relies on the incoming information from the muscles, ligaments and joints to understand where the body is and thereby to plan what the next movement requires in terms of direction and muscle activity.

Loss of any degree of proprioception causes the person significant problems with understanding where they are and how to perform the next movement safely and successfully. It is much more disabling than a loss of muscle power alone and requires that they pay much more visual attention to their position and the outcomes of each new attempted movement. Physiotherapists work routinely with people with proprioceptive loss to restore this sense after operation or stroke. Gym exercises prescribed by physios include standing on a wobble board and performing activities such as bouncing and catching a ball against a wall. Restoration of JPS is vital before return to sport.

Physiotherapy for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is an increasingly common condition, mostly but not exclusively occurring in women after the menopause when hormonal changes mean the bone density drops steadily with time. Those women who have good bone density to start with and whose density does not drop at a high rate may never reach the risky category. If osteoporosis is present then the incidence of fractures is higher, with vertebral body fractures and fractured neck of femur being the most common, both requiring intervention and causing distress and expense. Physiotherapists are involved in the assessment and management of people with low bone density.

Physios assess patients for their lifestyle, refer them for dietary advice if appropriate, generally advise on management, warn against inappropriate functional activities and prescribe exercise routines to maintain independence and maximise bone health. Physios may advise that lumbar flexion to pick up weights is inappropriate as the front aspects of the vertebral bodies are vulnerable in this activity to crush fractures. General and weight bearing exercises are taught as weight bearing stimulates bone maintenance and growth due to the jarring involved. Swimming and cycling are good aerobic exercise methods but do not have the bone stimulating effect of walking or doing exercises in a gym.