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

Knee Osteoarthritis, Stretching and Physiotherapy

Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition with a very large number of sufferers across the world, symptoms including knee pain, swelling, loss of joint movement and limited weight bearing function. Loss of extension of the knee is common and may be related to an increase in the activity of the hamstrings which limits the range of the knee into extension as we walk when a knee is osteoarthritic. Reid and McNair (Physiotherapy, March 2010) looked into this matter in older people as most stretching research has been in younger people. They studied a group of people with osteoarthritis of the knee, giving them three stretches of 60 seconds duration to see if this changed the way the knee behaved.

The two groups who had the stretching showed increased ranges of knee extension, similar in the osteoarthritic and the non-osteoarthritic groups, with some increase in the power available to be exerted. It may be useful to perform hamstring stretches before working on the range and power of the knee and this technique may also have a relevance in knee replacement which is becoming more common as a treatment for end stage osteoarthritis. Limitation of full extension is common after total knee replacement and physios treat it routinely.

Physiotherapy Mobilisation Techniques

Physiotherapists use a large number of treatment techniques to manage the variety of conditions their patients present with. Joint problems make up a large proportion of a physio.s caseload and to treat these a number of treatment approaches have been developed which go under the general umbrella of mobilisation techniques. Joint mobilisations are a technique of stressing the joint manually by moving it through a proportion of its range and with a specific amount of force. Manipulation, meaning work done with the hands, includes the more vigorous manoeuvres which are commonly referred to as manipulation.

Initially a physiotherapist will fully assess the joint for the type of problem which is present such as primarily pain, pain and stiffness or primarily stiffness with little pain. Mobilisations for pain will be gentle and rhythmic to avoid aggravating an already irritable joint. If the pain is less severe and there is some stiffness the joint can be pushed a little harder. If stiffness is the main problem in the absence of pain then the joint may tolerate being pushed repeatedly to the end of its available movement in an attempt to increase its range of motion. Training is required to assess and treat a joint safely and effectively.