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

Slipped Disc

Slipped disc is the term used in normal speech to describe a severe back problem, particularly one which involves severe leg pain. However, it is a misnomer in that the disc is unable to slip anywhere so a slipped disc indicates a different kind of pathology. The disc outer covering (annulus fibrosus) is made up of multiple overlapping levels of tough material which encloses a more gel-like interior (nucleus pulposus). With time the layers of the annulus can become fewer or split along certain lines, leading in some cases to the material of the nucleus protruding to the outside of the disc.

This protrusion of part of internal gel through the outer layers of the disc is the so-called slipped disc, known more technically as a disc prolapse or disc protrusion. The protrusion may aggravate the nearby nerve root by compressing it or chemically irritating it, leading to pain in the part of the body supplied by that nerve. The commonest syndrome is sciatica, a severe leg pain usually below the knee which is caused by pressure on the one the lower lumbar nerves. Most attacks of sciatica resolve on their own but if not then discectomy is a highly successful operation.

Losing and Gaining Muscle

Muscle is a dynamic tissue, changing greatly to accommodate to changing requirements. If a person.s leg is immobilised the thickness of the quadriceps muscle decreases by 15-20% in six weeks as the Type 1 muscle fibres reduce their protein production. This is the reason why immobilisation of a fracture or sprain is kept to an absolute minimum as losses of muscle and bone tissue are important, with joint stiffness another potential damaging side effect. Muscle will also respond quickly and strongly to increases in loading, with a maximum weight to be lifted increasing by 100% over a 12 month training period.

Much of the increased strength of muscle is due to hypertrophy of the muscle fibres, although other factors contributing are muscle endurance and learned coordination of the movement. A 30% increase of muscle mass can occur in four days after a muscle is overloaded in a stretched position, indicating the speed by which this part of the musculoskeletal system can adapt to new conditions. Exactly what makes muscles increase in strength is under discussion, but unexpectedly high activity, particularly in eccentric contractions, can cause the exercise induced damage which leads to repair and hypertrophy.