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

Radial Head Fractures

The radial head is a small, rounded structure on the outside of the forearm near the elbow, with a structure a bit like a cotton reel. It is held within a ligament which surrounds it like a cuff and articulates with the elbow and the ulna next to it. The radial head allows the forearm to rotate as it spins within its ligamentous circle, permitting what is known as pronation (turning the palm downwards) and supination (turning the palm upwards). These movements are very important for arm function, palm downwards allowing writing and reaching to pick up objects and palm upwards allowing the acceptance of change in monetary transactions.

Most radial head fractures are undisplaced, with pain as the major symptom and typically caused by a fall on the arm. If the fracture is in place within its ligamentous restriction the treatment is a sling for comfort and mobilisation of the elbow under physiotherapy supervision. Flexion and extension of the elbow and pronation and supination of the forearm are practiced within pain limits to restore the ranges of movement as soon as possible. More vigorous work should be restricted until after the healing period of six weeks for the bone.

Knee Osteoarthritis, Stretching and Physiotherapy

Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition with a very large number of sufferers across the world, symptoms including knee pain, swelling, loss of joint movement and limited weight bearing function. Loss of extension of the knee is common and may be related to an increase in the activity of the hamstrings which limits the range of the knee into extension as we walk when a knee is osteoarthritic. Reid and McNair (Physiotherapy, March 2010) looked into this matter in older people as most stretching research has been in younger people. They studied a group of people with osteoarthritis of the knee, giving them three stretches of 60 seconds duration to see if this changed the way the knee behaved.

The two groups who had the stretching showed increased ranges of knee extension, similar in the osteoarthritic and the non-osteoarthritic groups, with some increase in the power available to be exerted. It may be useful to perform hamstring stretches before working on the range and power of the knee and this technique may also have a relevance in knee replacement which is becoming more common as a treatment for end stage osteoarthritis. Limitation of full extension is common after total knee replacement and physios treat it routinely.