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

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.

Fatigue or Tiredness - Managing the Condition

Fatigue is difficult to manage as the underlying cause is not clear and the pattern of the condition can be unpredictable. Patients are taught to manage their tiredness via behavioural techniques such resting, planning activity carefully and pacing to avoid overdoing at any one time. They may often do nothing for a day before they know they have to accomplish some physical task such as a visit to hospital or a social outing. Patients may also prioritise their activity strictly and work at concentrating on the normal aspects of life to keep things as natural as possible.

Patients may also solicit the help and support of those closest to them to cooperate in getting as much done as normally as they can, but despite all these things patients typically report that they cannot manage well and that the tiredness remains as bad as ever. Fatigue is not well recognised as important by many health workers and patients may feel that insufficient notice is paid to this very disabling part of their musculoskeletal condition. As the condition is difficult to manage there may be few helpful suggestions even if the health professional does recognise the importance of the symptom.