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

Fractures of the Radius and Ulna

75% of all bony wrist injuries are fractures of the end of the radius, the ulna or both bones. The wrist joint involves the radius and ulna and the first row of the wrist bones. There are various fracture classification schemes for wrist injuries although a general guide is that the greater the amount of displacement and the greater the number of fracture fragments the more severe the injury is. The typical onset of these fractures is a FOOSH, a fall on an outstretched hand, which forces the wrist up into extension and typically results in a fracture in the last inch of the radius.

Because of the direct of the fall and the forces involves, the end fragment of the bone tends to be displaced upwards and backwards, with the ulna frequently fracturing too. The most common fracture pattern in this type is the Colles fracture, the term now used to describe a fracture through the last inch of the radius with ulnar fracture commonly accompanying it. This fracture is much more common in older age groups when it shows as a clean break away from the wrist. Younger people can suffer this kind of fracture but the higher forces often cause more severe damage.

Knee Cartilage Injuries

The knee cartilages are properly known as menisci and are almost circular cartilaginous structures which look like banked tracks, sitting between the flat upper surfaces of the tibia and the large rounded condyles of the lower end of the femur. Their function is not entirely understood but may be to guide the femoral condyles as they slide and glide, to distribute synovial fluid evenly around the knee or to give sensory feedback about the complex positions adopted by the knee at any moment. The menisci are vulnerable at times as the large femoral condyles can roll over them and being attached to the tibial upper surface they cannot always move out of the way.

This can result in the meniscus suffering compressive forces applied by the condyle and becoming injured in the process. Tears of the menisci are common injuries and occur in various patterns, common examples being a parrot beak tear and a bucket handle tear. The parrot beak is a small tear at the edge which then appears like a bird.s beak. If the tear is along the substance of the meniscus it can cause a loop with attachments at both ends, like a bucket handle.