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

Flat Feet

It is common for patients to present with progressive flat foot deformity, also known as pes planus. However, despite it being common there the causes and treatments are still under debate. Adult acquired flat foot is most likely to be caused by an imbalance between the active arch maintenance structures and the passive arch maintenance structures. The foot may have been normal at some stage and something has changed to bring on the process of flattening of the arches. The posterior tibial tendon plays a strong role in actively maintaining the inner arch and a dysfunction or weakness of this structure is thought to be important in flat foot.

However, the ligaments binding the medial arch together and maintaining its structure may also be deficient in some way, leading to flat foot problems. The spring ligament, a strong ligament running between the calcaneus (heel bone) and the navicular, supports the head of the ankle bone (talus) and stops its slipping downwards, thereby maintaining the arch of the foot. Deficiency of this ligament complex is thought to be equally important to problems with the posterior tibial tendon. Treatment typically starts with insoles and modified footwear and progresses to foot surgery.

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.