Physiotherapists in Stanford Le Hope treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

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.

Physiotherapy After Back Surgery

Spinal surgery falls into several categories: spinal fusion; disc replacement; decompression for stenosis; microdiscectomy; discectomy. The details vary with the presentation of the patient, the operation and the course of recovery but principles can be noted. Initially a physiotherapist will attend the patient pre-operatively to ascertain the pain presentation and to test the patient.s muscle power and educate them about the operation. On the first post-operative day the physiotherapist will check the patient.s pain presentation again and retest the muscles of the legs to ensure that no untoward changes have occurred.

Mobilising back surgery patients is straightforward. They are rolled onto their most comfortable side and got up sideways while their legs slide off the bed. Sitting is minimised due to the lumbar stresses it imposes and patients are usually walked a distance as long as they feel well. Neural mobilising and core stability exercises may be prescribed by the physio as appropriate. Recent evidence indicates that a more active rehabilitation regime after certain kinds of back surgery may ensure a better result, although in spinal fusions the fusion of the operation site is the priority. Physiotherapists follow up spinal patients on discharge from hospital and design an individualised rehabilitation regime.