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

Physiotherapy and Elderly People

The number of elderly people is increasing strongly in all the industrialised states of the world and the health challenges which come with this are considerable. Physiotherapists have a large role to play both in hospitals once an elderly person is admitted and with elderly people in the community. Once admitted an elderly patient is seen by the physiotherapist if a respiratory, neurological or mobility problem is identified. Physios specialising in elderly care are trained to understand, assess and treat patients who may have a series of co-existing medical conditions as well as difficulties understanding or expressing themselves.

Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to drug reactions, being away from their normal surroundings and being immobilised for any length of time. Complications can quickly occur such as chest infections, pressure sores, confusion and loss of mobility and independence. Physios assess and treat these problems and routinely mobilise patients who have compromised mobility. In the community physiotherapists may visit the elderly in their homes and advise on mobility, safety and functional issues. Physios also take exercise classes in the community for balance and falls prevention, and for bone density to counter the increasing incidence of osteoporosis in elderly women.

Inflammatory Disease of the Entheses

Mechanical factors are thought to be important in inflammatory conditions of the ligament or tendon insertions so addressing these matters may be useful. Physiotherapists can assess the problem and prescribe corrective or cushioning insoles as needed. Local injections of corticosteroids can be useful to treat the pain of enthesitis in a single area. For more widespread inflammation the new biological agents (known as anti-TNF agents) have been shown to be of some use, particularly if the legs are affected as this is so disabling. Typically enthesitis is likely to settle with time so the prognosis is reasonable.

Physiotherapy treatment of this problem includes assessment of joint ranges for restrictions which are developing and the design of an individual exercise regime to maintain the ranges of motion of all the affected joints. Hydrotherapy is a very useful treatment medium for most of the arthritic diseases as it allows the performance of joint movements in a warm and supported environment, minimising the forces on the joints, until the patient is able to progress comfortably to exercises in air. Patient education is important with the physio stressing that the exercise programme, targeted at specific difficulties for each patient, and needs to be maintained daily over the long term.