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

Rehabilitation after Knee Replacement

Rehabilitation after knee replacement starts before the operation as the patient is educated on what to expect and instructed in range of motion and strengthening exercises so the knee is in as good a condition as it can be before the operation. On the first day after operation the physiotherapist will get the patient up, begin their mobilisation, and also start the patient with range of motion exercises and re-establishment of muscle control around the knee. Quadriceps contractions are encouraged many times hourly as the patient must be able to hold the knee stable against the weight of the body if they are to walk safely.

Knee flexion is practised routinely with an eye on the health of the wound which is down over the front of the joint and so stretched by knee bending movements. Analgesia and cold therapy may be required to control pain and swelling and facilitate exercise compliance. An angle of bend of 90 degrees is aimed for over five or six days and eventually the knee may bend to 110 degrees or more, the amount required to ascend stairs normally. On discharge physiotherapy is typically continued with emphasis on quadriceps strength, good range of motion and natural gait.

Knee Arthritis

The knee is a large synovial joint formed between the large expanded end of the femur (thigh bone) and the top of the tibia or shin bone. The ends of the bones are covered with articular cartilage, a slippery and firm material which allows the almost friction free movement which our joints can provide even if there is a body weight load on them. On an x-ray this shows up as a dark space between the bony surfaces, known as the joint space. In time or after injury this cartilage can change as part of the process of osteoarthritis, although there is a significant genetic component which influences whether we get osteoarthritis or not.

Changes occur both in the cartilage and the bone of the joint during the osteoarthritic process and the process may begin with a softening of the cartilage from its firm, hard surfaces. Next, fissures can develop until the thickness of the cartilage wears down and in severe cases the underlying bone may be exposed, causing a bone on bone crunching and pain. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, loss of joint movement, joint deformity such as knock knee or bow leg and difficulties with gait.