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

Shin Splints

Shin splints (also called medial tibial stress syndrome) is the name given to a complaint of pain and disability in the calf area, especially the anterior and lateral area, during sport or other heavy activity. Runners commonly exhibit this problem and the diagnosis of a stress fracture in the area needs to be excluded. This appears to be a chronic exertional syndrome related to compartment syndromes, where the relatively inextensible anatomical compartments in the leg suffer increased pressure due to increased vascular input. The exact reasons why this process leads to pain on activity have not been discovered.

Patients with shin splints complain of pain or tightness in the calf during exercise, with the pain being aching, burning or cramping. The affected part of the leg may feel full and this feeling gradually increase as the activity continues, being related to the degree of exertion or the length of time it is maintained for. Pain typically settles with rest and the person thinks the problem may then go away, but then it reoccurs when the activity is returned to. The leg may feel weak and under less obvious control, with pins and needles or other abnormal feelings possible in the region supplied by an involved nerve.

Radial Head Fractures

The radial head is a small, rounded structure on the outside of the forearm near the elbow, with a structure a bit like a cotton reel. It is held within a ligament which surrounds it like a cuff and articulates with the elbow and the ulna next to it. The radial head allows the forearm to rotate as it spins within its ligamentous circle, permitting what is known as pronation (turning the palm downwards) and supination (turning the palm upwards). These movements are very important for arm function, palm downwards allowing writing and reaching to pick up objects and palm upwards allowing the acceptance of change in monetary transactions.

Most radial head fractures are undisplaced, with pain as the major symptom and typically caused by a fall on the arm. If the fracture is in place within its ligamentous restriction the treatment is a sling for comfort and mobilisation of the elbow under physiotherapy supervision. Flexion and extension of the elbow and pronation and supination of the forearm are practiced within pain limits to restore the ranges of movement as soon as possible. More vigorous work should be restricted until after the healing period of six weeks for the bone.