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

Neck Pain

Neck pain is very common indeed in the adult population and can be very troublesome in terms of personal distress and loss of functional ability. However, the underlying cause is very rarely serious and permanent injury or damage to the neck is rare. In acute pain (pain of recent onset) the typical course is for it to settle over a period of days or weeks, with minimal interruption in normal activities of daily living after the initial severe few days. Neck pain and neck ache can last for some day or settle down and then recur again at some unpredictable time.

Initial management of the acute pain is very important as resting for a day or so makes sense but any longer than this may delay recovery or increase the possibility of long term pain and disability. Our necks are designed to be moved and to recover from pain or injury they need to be moved regularly and through large movements. Staying as close to normal activity as possible is one of the most important strategies for recovery. The presence of pain inhibits our willingness to move but keeping the neck still may be counterproductive.

Physiotherapy Mobilisation Techniques

Physiotherapists use a large number of treatment techniques to manage the variety of conditions their patients present with. Joint problems make up a large proportion of a physio.s caseload and to treat these a number of treatment approaches have been developed which go under the general umbrella of mobilisation techniques. Joint mobilisations are a technique of stressing the joint manually by moving it through a proportion of its range and with a specific amount of force. Manipulation, meaning work done with the hands, includes the more vigorous manoeuvres which are commonly referred to as manipulation.

Initially a physiotherapist will fully assess the joint for the type of problem which is present such as primarily pain, pain and stiffness or primarily stiffness with little pain. Mobilisations for pain will be gentle and rhythmic to avoid aggravating an already irritable joint. If the pain is less severe and there is some stiffness the joint can be pushed a little harder. If stiffness is the main problem in the absence of pain then the joint may tolerate being pushed repeatedly to the end of its available movement in an attempt to increase its range of motion. Training is required to assess and treat a joint safely and effectively.