Jill Kerr Physiotherapy Ltd, based in Morningside, Edinburgh, Specialises in all Musculoskeletal Injuries & Pathologies such as Sports Injuries, lower back and neck pain, ligament sprains, muscle sprains, tendon pathology and joint arthritis. Our Physiotherapists also specialise in the rehabilitation of clients recovering from broken bones (fractures), peripheral joint replacement as well as helping clients with persistent (chronic) pain.
The musculoskeletal system will be examined using a detailed clinical assessment and the diagnosis explained, then each client will be given Physiotherapy/rehabilitation appropriate to their specific injury and lifestyle.
If you are unsure whether Physiotherapy is suitable for your problem, then please contact our team. Our Physiotherapists offer Telephone, Virtual and Face to Face Consultations.
Below is a list of just some of the common conditions our Specialists Physiotherapists can assist you with:
Spine & Pelvis (Cervical: Thoracic: Lumbar: Pelvis)
Spine & Pelvis:
Cervical:
Neckpain
Mechanical neck pain can occur at any age- in children we call this torticollis or wry neck, and it can be a distressing acute episode of pain and spasm in one side of the neck. Mostly the child wakes up with this in the morning and their head can be held in a bent rotated position and be very painful to move. Normally within a couple of weeks the pain has settled completely, and movement has recovered. Physiotherapy treatment and advice can help to treat this problem.
Mechanical neck pain in adults presents with normally unilateral neck pain, onset may be sudden or gradual. Sitting at a computer with a flexed neck for sustained times can be a predisposing factor. Nerve root compression in the neck will give referral of neurological symptoms such as paraesthesia, weakness, numbness, reduced reflexes occur in the arm but are less common in the neck region than the lower back. Your Physiotherapist will assess the neck
Whiplash
Traditionally whiplash occurs within a motor vehicle collision, however similar problems can occur during high intensity sporting collisions where there is a sudden deceleration to movement. The pain and stiffness in the neck by individuals is often not felt until the day after the collision. If pain is felt immediately then a visit to accident and emergency is normally recommended to ensure there is no fractures or instability. Early movement and intervention appropriately managed by an experienced Physiotherapist can facilitate a speedier response to full activity.
Bell’s Palsy
Sudden facial weakness that can be distressing and associated with stress or infection affecting the facial nerves. This occurs when one side of the facial muscles are not functioning normally. Early intervention with exercise and hands on Physiotherapy and the use of a mini muscle stimulator can help induce the recovery process. Our Physiotherapists can assess and treat this condition. Often the GP will have prescribed a short dose of steroids as early as possible to onset of the facial palsy.
Thoracic:
Thoracic Spine
Pain in the thoracic region (midback) can be mechanical pain caused by normally a rotation movement. Sudden onset of pain associated with a movement, results in pain between the shoulder blades which may be more to one side. Pain feels sharp, is local and due to location near the ribs can cause pain with deep breath, cough or sneezing.
However, pain in this area may be referred from many other structures such as the gallbladder: stomach: heart and pain can come from other non-mechanical causes such as shingles. Your Physiotherapist has been trained in how to treat mechanical thoracic pain and how to use differential diagnosis to rule out other causes of the pain.
Lumbar:
Low Back Pain (Non-Specific Mechanical Backpain)
Pain in the lower back area is extremely common amongst the adult population. Common causes of backpain are lifting/too much sitting/repeated bending. If there is pain in the lower back region with no referral of pain and no neurological symptoms the diagnosis will be non-specific mechanical backpain. This is not tissue specific to one structure and many different clinicians could explain it to different anatomical structures eg disc, joint, muscle, ligament etc
Onset can be gradual or sudden and the majority will resolve in around 3 weeks. However, Physiotherapy can assist in the recovery of movements and the education and strengthening to support your back are explained for ongoing prevention of future episodes. Hands on treatment will be to encourage the movement of the back and to improve the nourishment to the discs in your back- discs do not have a direct blood supply so movement is essential to their health.
An MRI should not be required unless there is unexplained persistent pain which does not fit a normal mechanical pattern of behaviour.
Your Physiotherapist will conduct an in-depth clinical examination to ensure there are no red flags or cause for concern.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a term used universally to mean pain in your buttock/posterior leg originating in the back. However, pain in the buttock and posterior leg can also be coming from a variety of structures within the spine, pelvis and hip. Your Physiotherapist will decide diagnosis uses a process of differential diagnosis where the findings from your examination are compared to the many different pathologies that can refer pain into the leg.
There is not a one treatment fits all for leg pain and following a thorough assessment the treatment options will be explained to you. Stretching the leg is often not the answer and its best to seek advice from an experienced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist.
If there is associated neurological aspects to the pain such as paraesthesia/altered sensation/ weakness or altered reflexes with the pain, you may have a nerve root compression. Your Physiotherapist can explain this to you and refer you for an MRI via your GP if they have concerns regarding your symptoms.
Pelvis:
Sacro-Iliac Joint
The pelvis and sacrum transmit forces from the lower leg to the spine and the joints in this anatomical structure are almost immobile. Ligaments are the main structures forming stability at these joints. Any factors that lead to ligament instability can lead to an increased incidence of problems in this area e.g. pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, hypermobility
However, imbalances of load placed on the structure can also result in pain and dysfunction. Physiotherapy can help to assess the potential causes of pain within the joint and the surrounding soft tissues and treatment can rebalance the loads on the pelvis. Pain from here is normally felt in the buttock and groin region. There should be no associated neurological symptoms, as these are usually referred from the lower back.
For more information about the injuries & pathologies we treat and the treatments we offer, or to book an appointment please call 0131 447 9990 or email us at info@jillkerrphysiotherapy.co.uk