Conditions

As your pregnant belly grows, the abdominal muscles are designed to stretch and make room for your bump. All pregnant bellies have a separation of the rectus muscle after 34 weeks of pregnancy. In some cases, this resolves itself with time in the postnatal period. In many cases however, it will require specific rehabilitation.

It is always advised to follow a few basic abdominal exercises to aid recovery of this separation, while also being mindful of how you lift your baby and when you return to exercise. Ultimately, the function of the abdominal wall is the most important thing, and this is something that physiotherapy can help with.

Acute wry neck, also known as acute torticollis, is a sudden and painful spasm of the neck muscles that causes the head to twist or tilt to one side. It often develops overnight, with patients waking up with a sudden sharp, stiff neck pain and an inability to turn their head. The pain is generally localised to one one-side, and it can sometimes radiate into the shoulder joint or the upper back.

An ATFL sprain refers to a sprain of the anterior talofibular ligament – one of the most commonly injured ligaments in the ankle. The anterior talofibular ligament connects the talus bone (in the foot) to the fibula bone (in the lower leg) and helps to stabilise the ankle joint.

An ATFL ankle sprain typically occurs when the ankle is twisted or turned in an unnatural position, causing the ligament to stretch or tear. This can happen during activities such as running, jumping, landing awkwardly or due to a sudden impact or fall.

A Baker’s Cyst (or Popliteal Cyst) is a pocket of fluid that accumulates behind the knee. This can happen due to several different reasons including cartilage tears, arthritis and ligament injuries. The presence of a Baker’s Cyst can cause pain and discomfort in the knee, and treating the underlying cause is necessary to resolve it.

Optimal bowel health is required for good pelvic health and often is the causative factor behind several pelvic conditions. There are a range of issues that cause constipation or poor bowel health that are not simply dietary. This is why it’s a good idea to visit both a GP (to test for any underlying conditions) and a trained pelvic health physiotherapist.

Optimal bowel health is required for good pelvic health and often is the causative factor behind several pelvic conditions. There are a range of issues that cause constipation, bowel incontinence or poor bowel health that are not simply dietary. Such issues can stem from pregnancy, the postnatal period and most frequently menopause.

A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones, tendons, and muscles in the body. Bursae help to reduce friction and allow for smooth movement of the joints and surrounding tissues.

There are more than 150 bursae in the human body, the largest and most well-known bursae are located near the major joints such as the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. However, bursae can be found throughout the body, including in the hands, feet and spine.

Cartilage is a firm yet flexible tissue that provides cushioning and support for bones and other tissues. It’s a type of connective tissue that is found in numerous locations within the body, particularly in your joints, ears nose and ribs. It’s

Cartilage performs several key roles. Here’s why:

• It acts like nature’s shock absorber, reducing the friction between your bones and joints, which helps prevent damage and pain.
• It provides structural support for body parts like your nose and ears.
• It serves as a smooth surface for joint movement, allowing you to have easier, more efficient motion.
• It’s involved in the development of bones and other vital tissues.
• It helps certain organs to keep their shape, such as the trachea and the larynx.

Cervical radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when a nerve in your neck becomes compressed or irritated, leading to pain and other symptoms. You might also hear it called simply a pinched nerve in the neck.

This can happen when a herniated disc or a bone spur puts pressure on the nerve as it exits the spinal cord.

Do you suffer from headaches? It may be caused by neck pain.

Cervicogenic headaches are a type of secondary headache, meaning they originate from another source, specifically the cervical spine (the neck) and its structures. Unlike primary headaches like migraines or tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches are caused by disorders or dysfunctions in the neck region, stemming from the vertebrae, discs, muscles or nerves.

The most common reasons for these headaches include bad posture, particularly in desk-bound workers or those who spend long periods sitting down or looking at devices, which strains the neck muscles and joints. Other causes include whiplash, cervical spine degeneration due to ageing and arthritis.

Dry needling is a form of therapy that involves the insertion of thin needles into trigger points in muscles and soft tissues to relieve pain and improve function. Dry needling is based on Western medicine principles and is focused on the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

The exact mechanism of how dry needling works is not well understood, but it is thought to work by stimulating the body’s natural healing process.

Dry needling can be used to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, hip pain and headaches. It is often used in conjunction with other therapies, like physiotherapy or massage, to help relieve pain and improve function.

What dry needling involves

The needles are inserted into the trigger points, which are areas of tightness or knots in the muscles, to stimulate a response from the nervous system. This can cause the muscles to relax, while improving blood flow to the area and promoting the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body.

Facet joint arthropathy is a condition that affects the facet joints in your spine. These joints are located between each vertebra and allow your spine to move and bend. Arthropathy refers to joint disease or damage.

Facet joint arthropathy occurs when the cartilage that cushions the facet joints wears away, causing bone-on-bone contact between the vertebrae. This can result in pain and stiffness in your back and may even lead to the development of bone spurs.

Facet joint arthropathy is commonly caused by degeneration with aging, wear and tear, or injury.

There are two main types of incontinence. Stress incontinence is related to the leakage of urine when there is an increase in abdominal pressure e.g., when running, lifting, jumping, coughing or laughing. Urge Incontinence occurs when there is an overwhelming urge to go to the toilet, but you are unable to make it there in time. These types of incontinence will often exist together.

Overactive bladder presents as a higher than usual frequency of needing to urinate. This will often occur with urgency and low volumes. These symptoms can be caused by hormonal changes or post-infection/surgery.

Frozen shoulder, also known as Adhesive Capsulitis, is a condition that affects the shoulder joint, causing stiffness and pain. The shoulder joint has a capsule of connective tissue that surrounds it and holds it in place. When this capsule thickens and tightens, it can restrict movement and cause pain.

The exact cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, but it often occurs after a period of immobilisation or injury to the shoulder. There is an increased risk for people with diabetes or thyroid problems.

The exact cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, but it often occurs after a period of immobilisation or injury to the shoulder. There is an increased risk for people with diabetes or thyroid problems.

The Iliotibial Band (ITB) is a key piece of structural equipment in the lower body. A thick band running from the outside of your hip to just below the outer knee, it connects the hip to the knee and provides vital stability during activities like walking and running.

When part of the ITB (usually closer to the knee) becomes inflamed and irritated due to sub-optimal loading of the knee joint, it can cause friction between the ITB and the femur.

A labral tear is a type of injury that occurs when the labrum, a piece of fibrocartilage that lines the rim of the shoulder or hip joint, becomes damaged or torn.

The labrum helps to stabilise the joint by deepening the socket and providing a surface for the joint capsule and ligaments to attach to. When the labrum is torn, it can cause pain, instability and weakness in the affected joint.

Lateral hip pain is also known as hip bursitis or greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). It’s a common condition that is characterised by discomfort or pain on outside of the hip, the area encompassing the greater trochanter (a bony prominence on the femur) and the surrounding soft tissues (including tendons, muscles and bursae.)

Inflammation is one of the main causes of lateral hip pain, or irritation of the trochanteric bursa – a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between the greater trochanter and the overlying muscles and tendons.

A lumbar facet joint sprain is a common injury that affects the small joints in the lower back, called the lumbar facet joints. You may hear it referred to as a lower back sprain.

The lumbar facet joints are located on either side of the spine and connect the vertebrae together, allowing for movement and flexibility in your lower back.

A facet joint sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the joint become stretched or torn, typically as a result of sudden twisting or bending. This can cause pain and stiffness in the lower back, as well as tenderness and swelling around the affected joint.

There are two main types of incontinence in men. Stress incontinence is related to the leakage of urine when there is an increase in abdominal pressure. For example, when running, lifting, jumping, coughing or laughing. Urge incontinence occurs when there is an overwhelming urge to go to the toilet, but you are unable to make it there in time. These types of incontinence will often exist together.

Overactive bladder presents as a higher than usual frequency of needing to urinate. This will often occur with urgency and low volumes. These symptoms can be caused by hormonal changes or post-infection/surgery.

The most common cause of incontinence in men is prostate enlargement or following prostate surgery. But it can also be the result of bladder muscle dysfunction and neurological disorders.

Mastitis occurs when there is a blocked milk duct or inflammation surrounding the milk ducts in the breast tissue. This causes reduced of a reduction in the flow of milk when feeding your baby or expressing milk.

This can happen at any time in your breastfeeding journey but is more likely in the first 6-8 weeks post birth, while your milk supply is being established. Our specially trained women’s physiotherapist can help relieve the symptoms of mastitis with safe, targeted treatment.

The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee joint that serves as a cushion between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). There are two menisci in each knee, one on the inner (medial) side and one on the outer (lateral) side.

The meniscus is important for several reasons:

• It helps to distribute weight and force evenly across the knee joint, which can help to prevent wear and tear on the joint.
• It provides cushioning and shock absorption for the knee joint during movement, reducing the risk of injury.
• It helps to stabilise the knee joint by preventing the bones from sliding or rotating out of place.
• It helps to lubricate the knee joint, reducing friction between the bones during movement.
• It plays a role in proprioception, which is the ability to sense the position and movement of the body.

Despite a belief that meniscus injuries are most commonly a sporting injury, our physios see and treat this type of knee injury across all groups. Certainly, there are many athletes, particularly those who play sports with a lot of pivoting, twisting or sudden directional changes (such as tennis, basketball, football, skiing and soccer). However, we regularly treat adults and older people who experience natural wear and tear that weakens the cartilage in the knee joint.

Pelvic pain is very common during pregnancy. This can occur due to changes in hormone levels, along with the normal weight gain, in and around the pelvis. This increased weight puts additional stress on either the front of the pelvis near the pubic joint, or at the back of the pelvis at the sacrum.

The pain caused by either of these can be disruptive to walking, exercising and sleeping. Pain can occur at any time in the pregnancy and requires optimum management to ensure mobility is maintained. This decreases the impact on labour and the ability to care for your baby after delivery.

Pelvic pain can occur for a variety of reasons, and involves pain felt deep within the pelvic region, often with penile/scrotal or rectal symptoms.

Pain will often be present during sexual intercourse which can be deeply distressing and may cause subsequent problems. Pain may also occur with erection. In some cases, it is diagnosed as pudendal neuralgia.

Pelvic pain is described as pain felt deep within the pelvic region, often with vaginal or rectal symptoms. Pain will often be present during sexual intercourse which is often deeply distressing and can cause subsequent problems.
Pain may also occur with speculum examinations or inserting a tampon. Menstrual type pain that may occur with a menstrual period is also considered pelvic pain. Physio treatment for sexual dysfunction or pelvic pain will often be in conjunction your GP or sexual health nurse.

General back pain can occur both with the many pregnancy and postnatal changes to your body. The growing weight of your pregnant belly puts pressure on the lumbar spine causing joint stiffness and surrounding muscle tension, while hormones loosen joints and ligaments during pregnancy.

After delivery, demands on the back change, with large amounts of repetitive bending and lifting of your growing baby. Static postures, such as those while comforting and feeding your baby, will also increase load on the spine and potentially cause to pain. Women’s physiotherapy can help relieve symptoms of pregnancy and postnatal back pain.

Prostate surgery often has the unfortunate side effect of urinary incontinence. To prevent this problem, it is advisable to see a men’s health physiotherapist pre-operatively to begin a strengthening program and be taught correct technique of pelvic floor exercises.

Post-operative assessments are also advised to be completed at 2-4 weeks post-surgery so that any continence, pain and scarring issues can be addressed.

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their associated tendons that work together to help stabilise and move the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff related shoulder pain is a common condition that is caused by damage or injury to the rotator cuff muscles and tendons in the shoulder joint.

Tendinopathy is a condition that affects tendons – AKA, the thick, fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones in your body. Tendinopathy is characterised by pain, stiffness, and weakness in the affected tendon, and it can occur for a variety of reasons including overuse, injury or underlying medical conditions.

There are two main types of tendinopathy: tendinitis and tendinosis. Tendinitis refers to inflammation of the tendon and is typically caused by overuse or repetitive motion. While tendinosis is degeneration of the tendon tissue, which happens over time due to chronic injury or aging.

Lateral epicondylalgia, more widely known as tennis elbow, is a condition characterised by pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow. It’s especially common among people aged 30 to 50 and is one of the most common sources of elbow pain.

The primary cause of tennis elbow is the overuse of the extensor muscles of the forearm, which are attached to the lateral epicondyle (a bony prominence on the outer elbow). Repeated stress or microtrauma to this area can lead to microscopic tears, degeneration and inflammation of the tendons, resulting in elbow pain and weakness.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a sliding-hinge joint which connects the jawbone to the skull and is responsible for opening and closing the mouth. Both the joint itself and the surrounding muscles can be a source of TMJ pain, and it is experienced by people who clench or grind their teeth at night, who have experienced trauma to the area, have arthritis or jaw alignment issues, and muscle tensions from triggers like poor posture, stress and even chewing gum.

Vaginal prolapse occurs when pelvic organs (bladder, bowel or uterus) start to descend towards the vaginal opening. This is due to increased stretch of the tissues that support these organs. This can occur as a result of trauma e.g., vaginal delivery, or can occur due to repetitive heavy lifting e.g., gym/occupation.

Vaginal prolapse can also occur as part of the menopausal changes that women experience around the ages of 45-55.