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

Ankle Sprain

The ankle is one of the most commonly injured joints in falling, twisting, slipping or in sport such as football. This joint is very vulnerable as it is at the end of series of long levers and takes the whole weight of the body in sometimes fast and violent movements. The ankle is a mortise type joint made up of the talus (ankle bone) and the bottom ends of the tibia and the fibula. Most of the joint surface is made from the tibia and the talus moving against each other, with the fibula on the outside. Powerful ligaments bind the ankle together on both sides to give stability.

When the foot goes over the ankle ligaments are sprained or torn, in some cases there may be a complete rupture. Mild sprains can be treated by ice, anti-inflammatory and a reduction in activity for a while. More severe sprains may need more rest and an ankle brace for a few weeks. Very severe sprains or rupture may require immobilisation in plaster of Paris or an Aircast boot until the ligament has healed well enough for weight bearing without protection to be restarted. In rare cases surgery is required if healing is not satisfactory.

Total Knee Replacement

Joint replacement is one of the most successful medical technical interventions with the highest quality of life improvements of any treatments. The most common reason for having a knee replacement is the occurrence of osteoarthritis, the typical age related joint change which occurs in many millions of people around the world. Osteoarthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, gradually increasing loss of range of movement and difficulties with walking, climbing stairs and rising from sitting. If conservative treatments are not successful and there is significant disability associated with continual pain and difficult sleeping then joint replacement may be considered.

In knee replacement the joint surfaces are replaced by stainless steels components and a plastic liner is inserted between them and on the back of the patella. The operation takes up to two hours and the person is typically seen and mobilised up into standing or walking the next day by the physiotherapist and an assistant. Rehabilitation with the physios is now very important, with exercise practice, gait supervision and functional activities. Length of stay in hospital varies between three and seven days with routine referral to physiotherapy on discharge to work on range of movement and strength.