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

Ankle Sprain

The ankle is one of the most commonly injured joints in falling, twisting, slipping or in sport such as football. This joint is very vulnerable as it is at the end of series of long levers and takes the whole weight of the body in sometimes fast and violent movements. The ankle is a mortise type joint made up of the talus (ankle bone) and the bottom ends of the tibia and the fibula. Most of the joint surface is made from the tibia and the talus moving against each other, with the fibula on the outside. Powerful ligaments bind the ankle together on both sides to give stability.

When the foot goes over the ankle ligaments are sprained or torn, in some cases there may be a complete rupture. Mild sprains can be treated by ice, anti-inflammatory and a reduction in activity for a while. More severe sprains may need more rest and an ankle brace for a few weeks. Very severe sprains or rupture may require immobilisation in plaster of Paris or an Aircast boot until the ligament has healed well enough for weight bearing without protection to be restarted. In rare cases surgery is required if healing is not satisfactory.

Inflammatory Disease of the Entheses

Mechanical factors are thought to be important in inflammatory conditions of the ligament or tendon insertions so addressing these matters may be useful. Physiotherapists can assess the problem and prescribe corrective or cushioning insoles as needed. Local injections of corticosteroids can be useful to treat the pain of enthesitis in a single area. For more widespread inflammation the new biological agents (known as anti-TNF agents) have been shown to be of some use, particularly if the legs are affected as this is so disabling. Typically enthesitis is likely to settle with time so the prognosis is reasonable.

Physiotherapy treatment of this problem includes assessment of joint ranges for restrictions which are developing and the design of an individual exercise regime to maintain the ranges of motion of all the affected joints. Hydrotherapy is a very useful treatment medium for most of the arthritic diseases as it allows the performance of joint movements in a warm and supported environment, minimising the forces on the joints, until the patient is able to progress comfortably to exercises in air. Patient education is important with the physio stressing that the exercise programme, targeted at specific difficulties for each patient, and needs to be maintained daily over the long term.