Archive for February, 2010

Shoulder Rotator Cuff Disease

The rotator cuff is a musculotendinous cuff which surrounds the humeral head and through which the shoulder stabilising and movement muscles exert their forces onto the shoulder. The cuff enables us to put our shoulder through a very large range of motion, the greatest range of any joint in the body, for the purpose of putting our hands in functional positions. The shoulder’s function is to allow our hands to be put in useful positions within our visual field so we can perform the intricate activities that define being human to a degree.

As the muscles approach their insertions on the humeral head they become more and more fibrous until they become wholly tendinous. Many bodily tendons are cylindrical and long but the shoulder tendons are flatter structures which coalesce over the top of the humeral head. The rotator cuff has a relatively poor blood supply and little or no ability to heal and with time and physical stresses tears appear which are often painful but not always so. Rotator cuff tears are a major part of a shoulder surgeon’s work and rotator cuff surgery is common, complex and demands detailed physiotherapy follow up for successful outcomes.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 25, 2010 at 10:26 pm

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Ankle Sprain Physiotherapy Treatment

Sprained ankles are very common and repeated sprains can lead to a swollen, painful ankle, problems walking on rough ground and the risk of re-injury. The physiotherapist begins with asking: How did the injury occur? Was there a high level of force involved? What happened afterwards – could the patient walk or did they go to hospital? Was there an x-ray?

The amount of pain the patient suffered after the injury is extremely important and if the level of pain is very high or if it doesn’t settle, there might be a fracture. Pain should settle with time and if not the physio will refer the patient back to the orthopaedic doctor. The areas of pain should match the mechanism of injury, indicate which structures might be injured and should be tested by the physiotherapist later.

Special questions are asked about the past medical history and previous injuries, any drugs the patient is taking, their appetite level, whether they are losing weight, their sleep quality and pain in the morning, their bladder and bowel normality and any relevant family history. This is to clear the patient of any serious underlying condition so that treatment can be safely performed.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 17, 2010 at 10:45 am

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Career in PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapy is a therapeutic treatment concerned with prevention, treatment and management of movement disorders arising from conditions and diseases occurring throughout the lifespan. Physical therapy is performed by either a physical therapist (PT) or a physical therapist assistant (PTA) acting under the direction of a PT.

However, various non-PT health professionals  employ the use of some physical therapeutic modalities in practice. A program of physical therapy will typically also involve a patient’s caregivers. Physiotherapy is the system of treatment of disease and disability using physical exercises. It is a vital rehabilitative service needed in a community and a therapeutic supplement of the medical profession, integral to the treatment of most patients.

Physiotherapy  seeks to improve movement dysfunction, promote optimal health and functions of the human body. It helps in optimal functioning of the body and involves the assessment, maintenance, restoration of the physical function and performance. It is  recommended for people with degenerative disorders, the physically challenged, sportspeople and those suffering from arthritis and neurological disorders etc;

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 16, 2010 at 5:09 pm

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Sports Physiotherapy – An Overview

Unless you’re an athlete or are close to someone who is, you may not be all that familiar with sports physiotherapy. It isn’t an occupation with which most people have a great deal of personal experience, after all. This article will provide an overview of his very interesting and wide-reaching career field and will outline some of the many things sports physiotherapists actually do.

The Collins English Dictionary (Second Edition) defines physiotherapy as “the treatment of disease or injury by physical means, such as massage or exercises, rather than by drugs [physio- (prefix) physical + therapy]. Thus, sports physiotherapy refers to the treatment of sports injuries by physical means.

That’s a good working definition, but it really only scratches the surface of what sports physiotherapy is really all about. It is true that athletes will consult with physiotherapists about injuries and that they may receive treatment as directed by the physiotherapist as part of their rehabilitation.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 8, 2010 at 11:01 am

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Physiotherapy – Good Or Bad Career Choice?

I’ve been a physiotherapist for 6 years in Australia. In Australia, physiotherapy is very difficult to get into through a university. For instance, the TER score (score after you finish your high school certificate) was 93 in 2000. That was the third highest score to apply for through university. Now, you may think that the higher the difficulty to apply, the higher the prestige, income and satisfaction the job will be. You think so right? Wrong!

Let me tell you, physiotherapy or physical therapist as a career choice is not what you think. I came to think when doing the course I expect a high income and high levels of satisfaction, but from my experience and others this is totally wrong. I have friends who have been doing physiotherapy for more than 5 years who have changed careers because they thought physiotherapy will get them nowhere. I’ve been told by one of the board members of the physiotherapy association that there is no physiotherapist working full time in a private practice above 45. So it seems many physiotherapists are not satisfied with their career.

So why is it that many physiotherapists aren’t satisfied with their careers? I can give you three good reasons.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 7, 2010 at 9:57 am

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Documentation In Physiotherapy – Benefits Of It

Documentation is very important in physiotherapy. A thing or a case is documented especially when that case has something that can help the present patient and even future patients for that matter. Different kinds of case studies are undertaken (e.g., types of support chairs that cater to back ailments, inventions that can aid a person recover from an ailment, a certain drug?s effects and side effects, etc.). Journals concerning therapy and medicine often include various accounts regarding physiotherapy. These documentations help physicians and other health care professionals by informing them about the latest methods, concepts, and works that have been successful and those that fell short.

More and more areas regarding physiotherapy cases are being covered in various studies. These cases are assessed then documented so that specialist as well as people in the community will learn about the findings of such cases. Documentations in physiotherapy are essential legal texts and should not be taken for granted especially by experts and professionals in health care.

In general, documentation papers and forms often contain introduction the physical issue or to physiotherapy, background of the study, past methods used to treat the case, attempted methods, procedure created and guidelines followed, discussion of the case, and other things that the author things are relevant to the case or study.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 6, 2010 at 6:56 am

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Physiotherapy and Gait Analysis

Travelling short or medium distances for us is easily accomplished by walking, which is convenient and easy but needs our muscles and joints to be in good condition and to be pain free. Having enough muscle power and sufficient joint range of movement in the legs is necessary for efficient walking. As walking progresses one leg gives the body support while the other swings through to be placed forward and in its turn to take weight. The swing and stance phases are the easiest way of understanding where either leg is at a particular point.

Achieving all the phases of gait so that you get back onto the same foot you started on is referred to as the gait cycle. The duration of both feet remaining on the ground at the same time is about 10 percent and one leg is standing on the ground for about 40 percent of the time. The rest consists of the swing part of the cycle as the non-weightbearing leg is taken through to a position where it can again bear weight. As our walking speeds increase the duration of the gait cycle phases  reduces until there is no double support phase where both feet are weight bearing at the same time, a condition known as running.

The leg joints follow a specific and repeatable series of actions during the swing and stance phases with stance made up of five sections in the order of initial contact, loading response, mid stance, terminal stance and preswing. Heel strike is the common name given to initial contact but some people do not heel strike at all or transfer weight to the heel later in the phase. Heel strike allows the leg which is about to weight bear to take the weight but not compromise speed, stability or shock protection.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 4, 2010 at 10:05 am

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It’s Your First Physiotherapy Visit – What Should You Expect?

Have you ever had treatment from a physiotherapist? If you have, then you know what to expect. But, if you haven’t, keep reading, this article will help clear up the process of using the services of a physiotherapist.

The idea of when and how to use a physiotherapist can be confusing. Many people (and you may be one of them) are often unsure (and even hesitant) about what to expect on their first physiotherapy visit.

The type of physiotherapy you receive really depends upon your injury diagnosis, age of your injury, intensity of the pain, and your (and therapist’s) preferred treatment procedure.

Do You Need To Seek Advice From A Doctor To Visit A Physiotherapist?

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 3, 2010 at 4:22 pm

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Physiotherapy Advice For Tennis Players

Tennis is enjoyed by people of all ages and with more and more indoor courts springing up around the country it’s no longer confined to the summer months. Whether you play tennis competitively or just for fun and exercise, there are a few important things to follow to keep you in good health and free from injury. Physiotherapy has long been associated with physical movement and well-being and it can educate you in these matters. Here are a few things to consider.

First up, if you are new to the game it’s worth a visit to the GP before you pick up a racquet. Any existing conditions or physical problems should be assessed by a medical doctor to ensure your body is going to be able to cope with a higher level of activity. If you already have an injury, visit a physiotherapist to help get you back into a good physical state and then ask them for advice about exercises that can help you prepare for tennis.

When playing sport, you’ll need to prepare the muscles that are needed most. This is done in a warm-up session before the game and a cool down session afterwards. This should last about 15 minutes. Here are the muscles to concentrate on for tennis and how to stretch them.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by admin - February 1, 2010 at 6:27 am

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