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

Sciatica - Physiotherapy Examination

Sciatica is also known as nerve root pain, nerve root irritation, nerve root entrapment and slipped disc pain in the leg. True sciatica occurs when one of the nerve roots exiting the spinal canal is compromised, usually by a disc protrusion. The pain is typically severe, radiates down the leg beyond the knee, is worse in the lower leg or foot, has a surging quality and is worse with sitting or bending and better lying down. Physiotherapy examination starts with a history of the pain location and aggravating or easing factors and what were the precipitating factors for the pain problem.

The physio will examine the patient carefully as it is easy to aggravate the pain. Muscle power (as able), sensibility and reflexes will be tested to check the conduction of the nerve root involved and this should fit in with the area of pain reported. With the patient lying supine the affected leg will be raised with the leg straight to stretch the nerve and evaluate any changes in the pain reported. This neural tension test must provoke the typical pain to be positive. Palpation of the patient's spine may be performed in prone to evaluate the mobility or stiffness of the spinal segments.

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.