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

Physiotherapy and Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a troublesome pain problem which occur in the sole of the foot in the heel region and can be very disabling. Underneath the heel on the calcaneal bone is a bony spur which is one end of the plantar ligament, a ligament which stretches along the foot towards the front. A sudden onset of severe pain on weight bearing on the heel is typical, with the person suddenly feeling they have to walk on tiptoe to avoid the pain. This conditions can occur in anyone but is more common in certain types of arthritic condition where the ligament and bone junctions are affected by the disease.

Physiotherapy assessment begins with a history of the condition and any other medical conditions the patient may be suffering. The foot is examined and the tender area palpated for the typical pain on pressure. The foot posture is checked to see if the patient has a flat foot or a heel deviation in standing,, and the tightness of the calf muscles is also assessed. Treatment involves stretches to the calf muscles, ultrasound to the area and silicone heel pads to reduce the force through the painful area. If not successful then injection of the area can be performed.

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.