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

Treatments for Acute Neck Pain

A collar used to be recommended for neck injuries but are only suggested now if the injury is very severe or the spine is unstable. Keeping the neck in collar over a long period can increase the stiffness and pain, although wearing a more flexible .beanie. type collar at night only may improve a patient.s sleep. Overall, collars are to be avoided for the best chances of a quick recovery. Using cold on the area over the first forty eight hours or so may be useful to reduce pain, with the best technique to use a packet of frozen peas inside a wet tea towel for ten minutes or so, repeated regularly.

Placing a frozen object on the skin could give a cold burn so a wet tea towel should always be used between the cold and the skin. After 48 hours heat can be used for pain relief and to relax muscles, and many people prefer this at any stage, using a hot water bottle or heat pack or having a bath. Heat can burn the skin so the same precautions should apply, putting something between the object and the skin if needed, and limiting the time initially.

Meniscal Tears

Each knee has a pair of interesting structures inside it known as the menisci, more commonly called the knee cartilages. They are cartilaginous structures a bit like banked tracks and attached to the top of the tibia on each side of the knee. Their upper curves surfaces accommodate the large curved condyles of the end of the femur which otherwise would have to articulate solely with the flat upper tibial surface. The function of the menisci is not entirely clear but they may have to do with distributing synovial fluid around the joint, giving the brain feedback on where exactly the knee is during activities or easing force transmission across the joint as it fills in the gaps between the two joint surfaces.

During movements of the knee the large femoral condyles can pinch the menisci against the tibial surfaces and cause tears in the substance of the meniscus. A small tear from the outside of the structure can cause a flap which is called a .parrot beak. tear. If the tear is horizontal along the plane of the meniscus and does not reach the edge then a flap can be produced which is known as a .bucket handle. tear.