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

Managing Acute Neck Pain

Most neck pain episodes which come on suddenly (acute neck pain) are managed by the sufferer independently and this is the best approach. The initial approach is to take some painkillers to reduce the pain levels to a more manageable state. Painkillers cannot abolish the pain completely, but simply allow the person to get moving and stay active in the early period rather than being forced to rest. It is quite safe to take the recommended painkillers, they don.t mask the pain so much that a person can damage themselves without knowing. It is important to take the drugs appropriately.

It is recommended to take the painkillers every four to six hours as advised in the instructions and to do this for several days, even if the person feels better now and then. Stopping taking them too soon means the pain flares up again at some point, inhibiting movement and recovery. Taking the painkillers regularly allows the build up of the drug levels in the blood which keeps the pain suppressed. People often stick it out until the pain becomes more severe but this is unhelpful as it is harder to relieve a pain than to prevent it developing.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a troublesome pain condition affecting the outer part of the forearm around the elbow. It is common is people who do repetitive forearm activities in work or hobbies and while it mostly occurs in people who do not play tennis, it can occur in tennis players too. In the acute stage tennis elbow can be very disabling as it interferes significantly with the function of the arm and hand and can produce high levels of pain. A more gradual onset of pain over the outer part of the elbow may be more common, with difficulty gripping and holding objects or performing repeated actions.

Physiotherapy examination consists of palpating the musculotendinous junction of the extensor muscles of the forearm for tenderness and pain, testing resisted forearm extension and the ability to grip strongly. An abnormality of the tendon, a tendinosis, is thought to contribute to the pain of this condition. Physiotherapy treatment consists of reducing the stresses by activity modification and use of an epicondylitis brace, ultrasound, deep frictions and eccentric exercises to the forearm extensors. Local injections of corticosteroid or even a surgical tendon release can be used in difficult cases.