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

Supraspinatus Tendonitis of the Shoulder

The shoulder joint is controlled by a group of muscles known as the rotator cuff which originate from the scapula or shoulder blade and travel outwards until they become tendons and insert into the top of the arm bone. The cuff stabilises and holds the large ball of the arm bone in place on the small socket as the shoulder goes through its very large range of motion. Without the rotator cuff the large and powerful deltoid muscle would just pull the shoulder area upwards rather than lift the arm above the head. The supraspinatus muscle is one of the cuff group and its tendon runs just underneath the bony arch above the arm bone to attach to the outside.

If the shoulder is used repetitively for an unaccustomed activity the tendon can impinge on the bony arch above and become inflamed and painful. This is supraspinatus tendonitis, a condition which can be acutely painful or more chronically restricting for the use of the shoulder. Physiotherapy treatment consists of ultrasound or frictions to the tender area and correction of any shoulder muscle imbalances. Further treatment includes corticosteroid injections to reduce the inflammation and if severe enough, investigation to look for rotator cuff tendon tears.

Sciatica - Physiotherapy Management

True sciatica is uncommon and occurs in less than 5% of people who suffer from low back pain problems. It is characterised by severe leg pain of a surging nature, typically worse in the lower leg and foot and with sitting or bending. Physiotherapists exclude red flag causes for the pain and examine the patient carefully to avoid aggravating the situation. Initial treatment might be explanation, the finding of a comfortable resting position to relieve the nerve root and taking analgesia appropriately because more active treatment would be too painful. Once the patient's pain has settled to a degree then more active treatment can be started.

Spinal mobilisation techniques may be used to mobilise the spinal segments and put mechanical input into the area where the nerve root is being compromised. This can start the process of moving the inflamed area and allow the patient to perform regular mobilising exercises within comfort. Exercises are progressed to put greater and greater mechanical stresses through the back as the patient improves and mobilisation techniques may be continued to open the nerve exits and continue the process of encouraging the nerve to settle down. Neural mobilisations may be prescribed once the pain has settled well to prevent adhesions developing.