Physiotherapists in Hammersmith

Hammersmith Services

The tory vistory in the local elections in 2007 has fundamentally changed Hammersmith Borough for the better with superior services and lower council rates. The range of health service is first-rate with Hammersmith hospital being a teaching hospital for Imperial College London. There are private health services available too such as Hammersmith osteopaths and chiropractors.

Physiotherapists in Hammersmith treat many different issues including the condition profiled below.

Continuous Passive Motion after Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement is an increasingly common treatment for knee osteoarthritis and large numbers of elderly people undergo this operation every year. Physiotherapy management and treatment of these patients post-operatively is therefore becoming increasingly important if the best functional outcome is to be achieved. Early rehabilitation focuses on improving strength in the quadriceps muscle, restoring range of motion of knee flexion and facilitating gait and activities of daily living. The restoration of knee ranges of movement is one of the key elements on which success is judged and much physiotherapy time is dedicated to this part of the treatment.

A continuous passive motion machine is commonly used to improve knee flexion range of movement, as regular passive movement of a joint has been shown to result in better healing as compared to resting. Research work has shown a minor short term effect of using this treatment technique and it is often reserved for difficult cases such as after manipulation under anaesthetic for a stiff joint. Patients can remain on the machine for long periods but it is important not to forget active practice of the ranges of motion to improve muscle function. Overall continuous passive motion has not been shown to play a significant role in standard knee replacements.