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

Slipped Disc

Slipped disc is the term used in normal speech to describe a severe back problem, particularly one which involves severe leg pain. However, it is a misnomer in that the disc is unable to slip anywhere so a slipped disc indicates a different kind of pathology. The disc outer covering (annulus fibrosus) is made up of multiple overlapping levels of tough material which encloses a more gel-like interior (nucleus pulposus). With time the layers of the annulus can become fewer or split along certain lines, leading in some cases to the material of the nucleus protruding to the outside of the disc.

This protrusion of part of internal gel through the outer layers of the disc is the so-called slipped disc, known more technically as a disc prolapse or disc protrusion. The protrusion may aggravate the nearby nerve root by compressing it or chemically irritating it, leading to pain in the part of the body supplied by that nerve. The commonest syndrome is sciatica, a severe leg pain usually below the knee which is caused by pressure on the one the lower lumbar nerves. Most attacks of sciatica resolve on their own but if not then discectomy is a highly successful operation.

Neck and Thoracic Posture

The spine is designed to be highly mobile but also to be stable and cope with the very large forces put upon it by movement of the body. At certain points in the spine a stiffer and more stable spinal area meets a mobile and flexible area and in these areas problems can develop. The neck and upper thorax have to manage the weight and movement of the head which is considerable and must be closely controlled so we can use our eyes effectively and interact with others. With time a typical posture develops in the neck and thorax where the head is carried forward of the body and a lump can develop where the neck and thorax meet.

The upper thoracic spine is a stiffer area of the spine and the neck is flexible, causing extra strains on this area which can become painful. The lower part of the neck is flexed more than usual and because we don't want to look down at the floor we lift the head up to look at the world and this extends the upper neck more than appropriate. With time this can develop into neck and arm pain from the lower neck and neck and head pain from the upper.