General Physiotherapy: Treatment & Recovery
Physiotherapy for your recovery and wellbeing
Physiotherapy covers the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of injuries to bones, nerves, tissues, tendons and ligaments. Prompt physiotherapy treatment can speed recovery following problems caused by injury, illness, accident or ageing. Physiotherapists help and treat people of all ages and physical conditions.
Physiotherapy can benefit all manner of problems, both musculoskeletal and neurological. We can relieve pain, help you to regain your normal lifestyle, and try to prevent future problems. We encourage a positive approach and a good understanding of your problem, aiming towards a full functional recovery.
Our approach
During your sessions, your therapist will assess your general health and medical history. They will also do a complete assessment/examination of the problem area. Following this, you will be given a diagnosis and a treatment plan.
Our physiotherapists use techniques such as:
- “Hands on” physiotherapy
- Advice and education
- Joint and spinal mobilisation and manipulation
- Soft tissue massage and myofascial release techniques
- Personalised exercise therapy and rehabilitation
- Taping
- Acupuncture
- Electrotherapy such as ultrasound and interferential.
- Walking analysis/biomechanical assessments
- Posture assessments
Some of the conditions we treat:
- Arthritis/osteoporosis
- Back and neck pain, sciatica, back pain in pregnancy, poor posture
- Issues with joint, muscles, ligaments and tendons
- Sports injuries
- Stroke and neurological conditions
- Ageing and frailty problems
- Poor balance
- Incorrect gait and walking patterns
- Post-surgery rehabilitation
- Lymphoedema
- Vestibular/BPPV
- Womens health
- Incontinence
- TMJ disorders
Conditions treated with Physiotherapy
Post Surgical Rehabilitation
Our physiotherapists are experts in post-surgical rehabilitation, especially hip and knee replacement. You will need rehabilitation as a lack of joint control, balance and strength following surgery means that you are at risk of re-injury. Rehabilitation is different for each type of surgery, but will usually involve a graduated strengthening programme and specific hands-on techniques to restore correct joint mobility and muscle flexibility.
SHOULDER pain
Injuries to the upper limb in sport form a surprisingly small percentage of all sports injuries. However, the shoulder is vulnerable to injury.
Injuries of the shoulder are common in racket sports and any sport involving bowling or throwing. Rugby, football and judo can result in shoulder dislocation or fracture of the upper end of the arm bone (humerus) mainly because they are contact sports.
WHAT CAUSES PAINFUL SHOULDER CONDITIONS?
- Overuse and excessive repetition of a movement
- Faulty techniques in sport especially throwing, bowling or racket sports
- Tension in the muscles between the neck and shoulder especially with people who have poor posture
- Damage to the bones and cartilage which can be caused by arthritis
SOME COMMON SHOULDER CONDITIONS
FROZEN SHOULDER
The shoulder anatomy consists of a ball and socket joint, attached to which are a number of muscles which have the dual function of stabilising the ball on the socket or controlling rotation of the arm. There is a capsule around the joint. This may become inflamed making all movement of the shoulder very painful and restricted. This condition is know as Frozen Shoulder. The capsule tightens and prevents movement. Pain can be severe, especially at night. Physiotherapy or a steroid injection can help. You will need “hands on “ treatment and a graded programme of exercises.
PAINFUL ARC SYNDROME
Inflammation to the attachment of the stability muscles of the rotator cuff.
It is characterised by an inability to lift the arm sideways. There is also a painful arc of movement where the inflamed tendon moves under the acromion process. There is also a bursa in this area which can become inflamed and lead to a condition called subacromial bursitis.
DISLOCATION OF THE SHOULDER
- Cause is usually due to body contact in sports such as rugby and football. A straight forward dislocation, usually anteriorly must only be reduced by a skilled practitioner. One should never attempt to put the shoulder back into place without adequate experience.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT AN INJURED SHOULDER?
- You need an accurate diagnosis so book in with a physiotherapist for an assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan.
WHAT TREATMENTS ARE THERE FOR SHOULDER PAIN?
- “hands on” therapy to the soft tissues and joints
- Treatment will help to restore normal function of the joint and correct movement patterns
- Advice on improving shoulder, neck and spinal posture
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Various forms of physiotherapy such as ultrasound, acupuncture, manual therapy and mobilising techniques, graded exercise programmes to restore full mobility, strength and stability.
- Other treatments are sometimes needed such as steroid joint injections or surgery
- Sports specific exercise are very important especially if the cause of the injury was a training error or faulty technique.
- K-taping to reduce the strain on the sore areas.
- Return to sport must be gradual
Incontinence
Do you leak a little when you cough or sneeze? Find yourself having to rush to the toilet or empty your bladder frequently? Your pelvic floor muscles support the base of the pelvis including your bladder and bowel and there are a number of reasons why these muscles can become weaker.
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Constipation
- Heavy lifting
- Menopause
- Weight gain
- Smoking
Physiotherapy can help.
Our therapist will ask you a number of questions to assess your symptoms. Based on the assessment findings treatment will involve one or more of the following:
- Pelvic floor exercise
- Bladder training
- Life-stye changes
Our therapists are here to help, so if you have any questions regarding incontinence do not be afraid to ask.
Adolescent & Child Physiotherapy
We have been treating adolescents and children since the clinic opened and the Cotswold Physiotherapy Centre has a long association with Cheltenham Ladies College, Cheltenham College, and Dean Close School.
We have treated injuries associated with many sports, including rugby, hockey, netball, football, cricket, racket sports, athletics, and swimming. Common complaints are knee pain (Osgood-Schlatter) and heel pain (Sever’s). Other sports injuries include shoulder and back pain, as well as thigh and hamstring pain.
Here at Cotswold Physiotherapy we have the expertise to treat any adolescent injury and to advise on management strategies, which will enable a quick and full recovery.
Child Physiotherapy
If you are concerned that your child is complaining of pain associated with sport, an assessment by a physiotherapist can be advisable. Many doctors will refer children for a physiotherapy treatment when complaining of ‘growing pains’.
Physiotherapy can help through stretching, soft tissue and mobilisation techniques, posture advice and strengthening.
