Conditions We Treat
Lower Back pain is very common, effecting 4 out of 5 people at some point. Whilst it can be very painful and debilitating it is not usually caused by a serious problem. Just because something is painful it does not mean it is seriously damaged.
The back is a complicated structure, formed of bones (vertebrae) discs, joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves, all of which have the potential to cause pain.
There are times when back pain can occur as a result of a incident such as a fall or lifting something or it may be something as simple as bending over. Often back pain can develop gradually, over a period of time, with no known origin. There are certain factors which make it more likely for you to develop back pain, these include poor activity or exercise levels which can result in stiffness and weakness. Poor posture, poor lifting technique or poor lifestyle, lack of sleep, poor diet and stress.
In the event of an episode of back pain don't panic. It is not usually the result of a serious problem. At A Mackie Physiotherapy We believe that the key to a speedy recovery comes from identifying the source of your pain. You will therefore receive a thorough consultation and assessment. Once the source of your pain has been diagnosed we can use various techniques including soft tissue massage, electrotherapy, joint mobilisation techniques and acupuncture to relieve your pain levels. Exercise is very well recognised as a key component in the management of back pain. However, performing the wrong exercises at the wrong time could worsen your symptoms and slow down your progress. We ensure that each individual receives specific exercises depending on what stage they are at in their recovery. When indicated we can arrange work station assessments to be carried out to ensure that poor posture is not placing unnecessary strain on your back.
Back pain is very common and can be very painful but it does not have to be something you live with. Call today to arrange a full consultation and assessment.
Neck pain is a common complaint and can present in many different ways from a sharp pain to stiff or achy pain, but in most cases the pain is not the result of a serious problem and in most cases can be easily treated.
The neck consists of 7 bones (vertebrae). These are linked together by joints called facet joints and discs, which, together with the neck muscles allow you to move your neck.
Tension in muscles which work hard throughout the day to keep your head upright have the potential to cause pain and headaches. Everyday wear and tear on the joints and discs in the neck known as Cervical Spondylosis can also cause pain. In some instances the nerves that exit at the neck can become irritated causing pain, tingling or pins and needles and weakness in the arm and the hand.
A full and thorough assessment by your physiotherapist can identify the source of your symptoms.
It is estimated that around 7.3 million people in England suffer from osteoarthritis with a higher prevalence in women than men. This increases with age, although contrary to popular belief it is not caused by ageing. There are a number of reasons including genetic and lifestyle. As we grow older, most of us develop some osteoarthritis which is caused by wear and tear of our joints, overuse of joints, lack of appropriate exercise, or excessive weight. The main symptoms are pain, stiffness, creaking joints and swelling. There is no cure for arthritis but we can help you manage your condition and slow down the degeneration process.
Knee pain or knee injuries are very common, and there are many causes. It is therefore very important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your knee pain to ensure that the appropriate treatment is provided.
Knee pain can affect people of all ages, and walks of life, from growing pains such as Osgood Schlatters in adolecents to Knee pain in runners due to biomechanical issues. Knee pain can arise from soft tissue injuries such as ligament sprains and muscle strains to bone conditions like knee arthritis, your knee pain may even be referred from your sciatica!
The management of your knee pain is dependent on the cause and accurate diagnosis of the source of your pain is therefore key to improvement. Treatment can involve simple knee mobilisation techniques, massage, taping, stretches or strengthening exercises all the way through to a thorough rehabilitation protocol post knee reconstruction or knee replacement.
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, enabling you to perform a vast array of movements and tasks with your arm and hand every day. As a result of its mobility the shoulder is often a common site of injury or pain. The inability to move your arm due to shoulder pain can be extremely debilitating and frustrating. Simple acts like putting a coat on or reaching out can be extremely painful. A painful shoulder can often be the cause of sleepless nights. In most cases shoulder pain is not caused by anything serious and can be successfully treated.
There are many potential sources of pain in the shoulder, some of the most common are:
Rotator Cuff
Bursitis Shoulder
Shoulder Dislocation (Instability)
Frozen Shoulder
Fractures
Shoulder Arthritis
Many patients suffer with neuralgia from trapped nerves. The nerves in our body can get caught around many structures like spinal disc bulges, tight muscles and in specific conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Once the cause of the neuralgia has been identified, a treatment plan can then be implemented to help ease your discomfort.
There are many causes of headaches which should be investigated first with your GP. Headaches can be caused by tension, poor posture or joint pain relating to the neck or face muscles. We can assess your symptoms and provide exercises and treatment to reduce or cure headaches which are related to these typical problems.
Posture is extremely important in terms of good health. Back and neck pain are one of the leading causes of sickness in the UK. Long hours that are spent sitting at a computer screen are likely to cause aches and pains. The most serious being back, neck and wrist strain. Whilst back and neck pain is a very common complaint from those who spend long hours at their desk, it can be avoided.
If you sit and use a computer you can improve your posture by ensuring you sit in the correct position and arrange your desk correctly. If you are not sure how to set up your workstation, you should think about arranging a workstation assessment.
Back and neck pain that occurs when sitting down at your desk for a long period of time, may be due to the forces that occur in the spine. When you sit down at your desk in the slumped position, the natural curve of the spine is lost and the lower spine straightens. This causes the force distribution to be lost. Over time this increased force is likely to cause fatigue in the spinal muscles and cause pain in the back. Sitting in an upright neutral posture upholds the natural curve of the spine and therefore prevents excessive loading of the lower back.
Golfers elbow is characterised by pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow whilst in tennis elbow the pain is felt on the outside of the elbow.
Golfers elbow and tennis elbow occur as a result of overuse to a group of tendons that move your wrist and fingers. This results in structural changes within the tendons resulting in the tendons being unable to withstand the forces that everyday life puts upon them. The symptoms of golfers and tennis elbow is pain on bending the wrist or gripping objects. Pain may be an ache over the elbow and/or a shooting pain towards the hand. You may experience weakness in your wrist or reduced grip strength.
Ankle pain is very common, with many potential causes. The most common source of ankle injury is a sprained ankle where the ligaments of the ankle have been over stretched. In many cases the patient will be able to recall a specific traumatic event where the injury occurred. However, this is not always the case.
Other common sources of pain around the ankle include pain arising from the tendons. This can either be the tendons on the inside of the ankle or the outside of the ankle. The Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle is also a common source of pain.
Plantar Fasciitis is the inflammation of the planta fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs under the arch of the foot from the heel l bone to the toe bones. Pain is often worse on the first steps when getting out of bed first thing in the morning and on weight bearing after long periods of rest. Symptoms are commonly a sharp stabbing pain at the bottom or front of the heel bone. It is most common to experience the condition in only on one foot however, reports show up to an third of sufferers have symptoms in both feet.
Some of the common contributing factors that can lead to plantar fasciitis are over-pronation, age, recent weight gain, walking or standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time and tight calf muscles.
The most common cause of heel and foot pain is plantar fasciitis which is an inflammation of your plantar fascia. The pain can be anywhere on the underside of your heel but usually in one specific spot, and is often worse when you get out of bed in the morning, often described as a stabbing pain or ache. Walking or standing for a long time often makes the pain worse. The condition affects around one in ten people at some point in their lives and usually goes away with time but physiotherapy and prescribed exercises can help speed up healing.
Whiplash injury is a type of neck injury caused by sudden movement of the head forwards, backwards or sideways. It occurs when the soft tissues in the neck become stretched and damaged (sprained). Whiplash can commonly occur as a result of a road traffic accident, a sudden blow to the head - for example, during sports,a slip or fall where the head is suddenly jolted backwards or being struck on the head by a heavy object.
Common symptoms of whiplash include:
•neck pain and tenderness
•neck stiffness and difficulty moving your head
•headaches
•muscle spasms
•pain in the shoulders and arms
Less common symptoms include pins and needles in your arms and hands, dizziness, tiredness, memory loss, poor concentration and irritability.
It can take several hours for the symptoms to develop after you injure your neck. The symptoms are often worse the day after the injury, and may continue to get worse for several days.
The length of time it takes to recover from whiplash can vary and is very hard to predict. Many people will feel better within a few weeks or months, but sometimes it can last up to a year or more. Severe or prolonged pain can make it difficult to carry out daily activities and enjoy your leisure time. It may also cause problems at work and could lead to anxiety or depression.
Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Praesent sapien massa, convallis a pellentesque nec, egestas non nisi. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Donec velit neque, auctor sit amet aliquam vel, ullamcorper sit amet ligula. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus suscipit tortor eget felis porttitor volutpat.
Anyone who enjoys participating in a sport, such as golf, tennis, running, cycling, gym exercise, football, hockey, swimming or skiing, is likely to experience an injury at some time in their life. Sports injuries can be complex and therefore an accurate diagnosis is essential for the proper management and treatment of the condition. We provide a comprehensive assessment and support you to improve your condition as quickly as possible so you can return to your previous activities.
Cycling is becoming one of our most popular pass times and for some it becomes the sports activity of choice. However, many cyclists experience pain and discomfort from incorrect posture whilst cycling leading to lower back pain, neck pain, foot/ankle pain or knee pain. More advanced cyclists can also experience tingling, numbness or weakness in their hands.
We are specially trained to assess cycling injuries, provide treatment and exercises to improve injuries, and advise about how to avoid problems in the future so you enjoy problem-free cycling.
