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

Fractures of the Radius and Ulna

75% of all bony wrist injuries are fractures of the end of the radius, the ulna or both bones. The wrist joint involves the radius and ulna and the first row of the wrist bones. There are various fracture classification schemes for wrist injuries although a general guide is that the greater the amount of displacement and the greater the number of fracture fragments the more severe the injury is. The typical onset of these fractures is a FOOSH, a fall on an outstretched hand, which forces the wrist up into extension and typically results in a fracture in the last inch of the radius.

Because of the direct of the fall and the forces involves, the end fragment of the bone tends to be displaced upwards and backwards, with the ulna frequently fracturing too. The most common fracture pattern in this type is the Colles fracture, the term now used to describe a fracture through the last inch of the radius with ulnar fracture commonly accompanying it. This fracture is much more common in older age groups when it shows as a clean break away from the wrist. Younger people can suffer this kind of fracture but the higher forces often cause more severe damage.

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition affecting the tibial tuberosity (bony lump just below the kneecap) in children around eight to thirteen years old. It typically affects around 20 percent of athletic children of these ages as compared to less than 5 percent of nonathletic children. It tends to coincide with spurts of growth and is three times more likely in boys rather than girls. In young children the tibial tuberosity or tibial tubercle is formed of cartilage and only ossifies into bone later and it is postulated that repeated traction applied to this area can cause minor fractures or inflammation. This leads to pain on vigorous activities where the quadriceps are involved.

Pain, tenderness and swelling typically develop over the tubercle, exacerbated by activity, but the condition is self-limiting and as the growth plate areas fuse into bone the condition gradually settles. As the athletic young person perform sport, the stresses cause minor fractures in the tendon insertion area, which then heals with bony repair. When this is repeated many times the tibial tubercle may become very prominent and give long term problems with functional activities such as kneeling. Limitation of the aggravating activity or short-term immobilisation is required until the inflammation settles.