Physiotherapists in Hampshire treat many different conditions including the condition 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.

Common Causes of Disc Prolapse

Spinal surgeons know that most disc herniations they are required to operate on are mostly made up of nucleus pulposus and rarely consist of much of the annulus fibrosis, which never occurs alone in a prolapse. Typical actions which risk prolapse are lifting and carrying, imposing flexion, side bending and compression loads on the lumbar spine at the same time. Combinations of these forces are what make a prolapse more likely, such as falling on the bottom whilst the legs are straight out in front, combining compression and bending. Other combinations could include tripping and so bending forward whilst carrying, reaching forward to catch a heavy object or lifting something heavy after a period when the spine has been in flexion.

If the upper body is pulled forwards suddenly and a force applied this is the most risky posture as the back muscles are contracting most strongly to resist the forward movement at that time and so increasing the compression through the spine. Due to fact that the discs are tighter and more swollen with water in the morning, it seems that disc prolapse may be more likely to occur at this time. Repeated bending in heavy jobs could also cause prolapse with time.

Physiotherapists in Hampshire have contributed some of the many articles on this site such as the one extracted below.

A hernia occurs when a weakened area of the abdominal wall allows a bulge of fat or bowel from the abdominal contents to protrude outwards. This happens most commonly in the groin and is known as an inguinal hernia. There is a ligament passing across the groin and just above this there a small passage which allows the blood vessels supplying the testicle to pass through. If this passage or the surrounding structures weaken or stretch then part of the stomach lining or peritoneum can bulge through the gap, particularly on standing, coughing or vigorous activity.The area of the hernia can give discomfort by bulging, and the hernia bulge settles back into the abdominal cavity on lying down although they sometimes need to be replaced gently by the hand. There does not have to be an obvious protrusion for aching to occur and an examination will be needed to find the hernia. A hernia can be very large, particularly if it has been present for a long time and it can fill up the scrotal sac in ...

more Repair of Hernia " Part One"