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

Wrist Fractures

The wrist is the most commonly injured part of the upper limb with fractures of the end of the radius and ulna making up three-quarters of all wrist injuries. The wrist bones can be injured in isolation but this is much less common. The frequency of these injuries and the importance of the hand to normal dexterous functioning means that the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of these injuries is vital for the best eventual outcome and limitation of any longer term disability. In the wrist bones the scaphoid is more vulnerable than most to injury and fracture, with between 60 and 70 percent of all wrist bones fractures.

Scaphoid fractures are difficult to see on x-ray and a number cannot be seen on typical x-ray investigation, meaning that this fracture can be easily missed. However, missing a scaphoid fracture can have serious consequences for the future of a person's wrist due to the particular anatomy of the bone. The scaphoid has a waist where most of the fractures occur and blood flow occurs from one end of the bone to the other. A fracture can cut off the blood supply to one end of the bone, causing the bone to die, a condition known as avascular necrosis.

Rehabilitation after Knee Replacement

Rehabilitation after knee replacement starts before the operation as the patient is educated on what to expect and instructed in range of motion and strengthening exercises so the knee is in as good a condition as it can be before the operation. On the first day after operation the physiotherapist will get the patient up, begin their mobilisation, and also start the patient with range of motion exercises and re-establishment of muscle control around the knee. Quadriceps contractions are encouraged many times hourly as the patient must be able to hold the knee stable against the weight of the body if they are to walk safely.

Knee flexion is practised routinely with an eye on the health of the wound which is down over the front of the joint and so stretched by knee bending movements. Analgesia and cold therapy may be required to control pain and swelling and facilitate exercise compliance. An angle of bend of 90 degrees is aimed for over five or six days and eventually the knee may bend to 110 degrees or more, the amount required to ascend stairs normally. On discharge physiotherapy is typically continued with emphasis on quadriceps strength, good range of motion and natural gait.