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

Period Pain could be helped by Acupuncture

A recent study conducted in South Korea has provided some evidence than acupuncture may be useful as a treatment for period pain. Previous studies have found differently, with real and sham acupuncture having very similar effects. Period pain can be a significant problem in some women with a large variety of unpleasant symptoms including pain and nausea, sometimes lasting for many days of each cycle and thereby being disabling to some extent. A review considered 27 studies of acupuncture in period pain, with a variety of techniques used from traditional to western to sham acupuncture.

The studies showed that acupuncture was more effective than drug treatments in relieving severe period pains, despite the fact that many of the studies had flaws and therefore could not be completely relied upon for a scientific conclusion. However they did feel there was promising evidence that acupuncture could be of use in this condition. In the UK the body charged with evaluating evidence for treatments, NICE, has supported acupuncture for low back pain against criticism that acupuncture is not yet a valid treatment for anything. As acupuncture does seem to have important cultural aspects this may indicate that the individual.s belief structure is important for a good outcome.

Hand Injuries - Diagnosis

The diagnosis of most hand injuries is not difficult as the damage is usually readily apparent to the examiner. There will typically be a history of trauma and this should be carefully attended to as it may give clues to a more complex injury than first appears. Bruising and swelling are very typical signs apparent on initial inspection, with pain a common and often localising feature. There may be an obvious deformity if the joints are dislocated or bones fractures with displacement, the patient will have lost the ability to grip firmly and there may be reduced range of movement in the fingers and thumb.

Examination starts with a visual examination of the hand which guides the doctor as to further required tests and investigations. The doctor will palpate the hand systematically to look for areas of particular pain or abnormal movement which would point to an underlying injury. The ranges of movement of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand is assessed and recorded, with the tendon actions tested in turn to search out any tendon involvement. Circulatory function will be checked to exclude blood vessel damage. Investigations will routinely include x-rays to look for fractures, dislocations or embedded objects such as glass.