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

Wrist Fractures

The wrist is the most commonly injured part of the upper limb with fractures of the end of the radius and ulna making up three-quarters of all wrist injuries. The wrist bones can be injured in isolation but this is much less common. The frequency of these injuries and the importance of the hand to normal dexterous functioning means that the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of these injuries is vital for the best eventual outcome and limitation of any longer term disability. In the wrist bones the scaphoid is more vulnerable than most to injury and fracture, with between 60 and 70 percent of all wrist bones fractures.

Scaphoid fractures are difficult to see on x-ray and a number cannot be seen on typical x-ray investigation, meaning that this fracture can be easily missed. However, missing a scaphoid fracture can have serious consequences for the future of a person's wrist due to the particular anatomy of the bone. The scaphoid has a waist where most of the fractures occur and blood flow occurs from one end of the bone to the other. A fracture can cut off the blood supply to one end of the bone, causing the bone to die, a condition known as avascular necrosis.

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.