Whiplash,Vertigo (BPPV),Total Knee Replacement (TKR),Tips for Self-Care of Your Back,Shoulder Impingement,Sever's Disease,Safe
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Whiplash What is Whiplash? Whiplash is defined as an acute acceleration/ deceleration injury to the cervical spine (neck), where the head is flung forwards and backwards at high speeds. Whiplash injury can result in damage to the joints within the neck, the bones, the soft tissue surrounding the neck or damage to the neural tissue. It can cause widespread pain to the neck, head, shoulders and arms. How does it happen? Whiplash most commonly occurs in high speed motor vehicle accidents, however it can also occur in sporting activities and falls. What can a physiotherapist do? The physiotherapist will provide a thorough assessment of your neck and thorax, and then determine the extent of your whiplash injury. If a fracture or serious damage is suspected the physiotherapist will refer you for further medical attention and imaging and can refer you for X-rays if required. Initial treatment of a whiplash injury requires rest and avoidance from aggravating activity. Ice and anti- inflammatories may be recommended in the initial phase to reduce swelling. Correct posture is vital to avoid increased strain on the neck and aid recovery. The physiotherapist may provide postural taping or a neck brace to assist with this. The physiotherapist will also provide further treatment to assist in optimal recovery including soft tissue massage, mobilisations, dry needling and electrotherapy. A rehabilitation program will be designed to help increase the movement, strength and stability of your neck and surrounding musculature. The physiotherapist may also provide recommendations on appropriate pillows to provide your neck with the best support whilst sleeping. What about work/sport? Return to work and/or sport will vary greatly depending on the extent of your injury and the demands of your work and/or sport. In the initial stages of a whiplash injury sustained positions, heavy lifting and high intensity activity is not recommended therefore restricted hours and duties may be required. The physiotherapist will be able to provide you with the relevant ergonomic advice for returning to work. Outcome The overall outcome for whiplash injuries depends on the extent and severity of damage sustained. Best outcomes are seen with appropriate rehabilitation. For more information or to make an appointment, you can BOOK ONLINE or call your local clinic. Vertigo (BPPV) What is BPPV? Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common disorder of the inner ear’s vestibular system, which is a vital part of maintaining balance. BPPV is benign, meaning that it is not life-threatening nor generally progressive. BPPV produces a sensation of spinning called vertigo that is both paroxysmal and positional, meaning it occurs suddenly and with a change in head position. What causes BPPV? The most common cause of vertigo, BPPV, happens when tiny particles in the balance centre of the inner ear are disturbed, usually by sudden movement. This causes the spinning sensation. It is a common problem that can affect people of all ages and is the cause of approximately 50% of dizziness in older people. Activities that bring on a dizzy spell can vary. They often involve moving your head into a certain position suddenly, such as looking up, lying on one ear, rolling over in bed, getting out of bed and bending over. What are the symptoms? The symptoms of BPPV are dizziness: this begins seconds after a certain head movement and lasts less than a minute; feeling light headed; balance problems, and nausea: feeling like you are going to vomit. These symptoms usually get better once you are in a different position. Pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or deafness is not common. If you have more serious symptoms – speech difficulty, double vision, unsteady walking, difficulty swallowing, altered strength or feeling in your legs or arms, ringing in your ears or deafness – you should seek medical help. What will the physiotherapist do? The condition is diagnosed by a test called the Hallpike-Dix which involves moving you from a sitting position to lying down with your head over the edge of the bed. Your physiotherapist can treat BPPV by moving your head through a number of different positions. The aim is to move the crystals back out of the canal where they will be reabsorbed by your body. This treatment is very effective. Many people have complete resolution of symptoms in one to two treatments. However, the problem can recur in up to 30% of people. You may need to perform some balance exercises to treat any remaining balance problems once the BPPV has resolved. Outcome Research indicates a greater than 80% success rate within two physiotherapy sessions. If BPPV is an ongoing problem then it is best to do Brandt-Daroff exercises at home (see below). Brandt-Daroff exercises assist in dispersing the tiny particles from the balance centre in your ear, therefore getting rid of the cause of your dizziness. You may be anxious that the exercises will bring back your symptoms. This is normal. However, the exercises will only work if you feel dizzy as you do them. The dizziness will get less with time. Sit on the edge of the bed. Turn your head 45 degrees (look to the left). Lie down quickly on the right side. Ensure the back of the head rests on the bed. Wait 20-30 seconds or until the dizziness stops. Sit upright. Wait 20-30 seconds for any dizziness to settle. Repeat on the other side. Turn the head slightly to the right before lying down quickly on the left side. Do five times on each side (takes about 10 minutes). Repeat three times a day. For more information or to make an appointment, you can BOOK ONLINE or call your local clinic. Total Knee Replacement (TKR) What is a total knee replacement (TKR)? When health professional use expressions such as ‘total knee’, they mean a joint replacement operation in which the complete knee joint is replaced. An artificial joint is called a prosthesis. There are many different kinds of prosthesis and are all made of materials such as metal, plastic or ceramic. Why have a joint replaced? The aim of having a joint replaced is usually to relieve severe pain and restricted movement, especially when other non-surgical treatments no longer bring sufficient relief. In most cases the operation will reduce pain, improve mobility, make day-to-day activities easier and improve your quality of life. As with all other treatments, joint replacement is not a miracle cure. The artificial joint will not restore things to the way they were when the joint was completely normal and healthy, or when your body was at its physical peak. To achieve maximum flexibility and strength of the knee replacement, you will need to follow a program of physiotherapy in the weeks following the operation. What is the long-term outcome? Most joint replacements have a very good outcome. More than 90 per cent of knee replacements survive for 10 to 15 years. Some have lasted for up to 25 years. What will the physiotherapist do? Your physiotherapist will assess the range of movement of your knee and strength of the surrounding muscles. Your rehab exercises will be gradually progressed appropriate to your level and stage of recovery. The physiotherapist may also provide manual ‘hands on’ therapy to assist in further regaining range of movement. This can include mobilization of the knee cap and knee joint, and soft tissues massage. Your physiotherapist will also provide advice on pain and swelling control, the use of crutches and gait correction and the appropriate level of activity that you should be completing. People vary greatly in their abilities post-operatively, so try not to compare yourself to others. How much physiotherapy will I need? Generally most knee replacement patients progress very well. If your knee is a little stiff and swollen post operatively, you may require physiotherapy twice a week for two to three weeks to achieve maximum flexibility, then once a week for a couple of weeks. If you have good range of movement, you will probably require three to four sessions of physiotherapy, usually weekly. Exercises The exercises that you are prescribed will be the most effective exercises for regaining good flexibility and quadriceps strength, without unnecessarily aggravating your knee joint. Pain is very normal during exercises and should be minimized by analgesics taken prior to exercise. If you feel you are regressing in your ability to do some or all of the exercises, please advise your physiotherapist. For more information or to make an appointment, you can BOOK ONLINE or call your local clinic. Tips for Self-care of your back Back pain is rarely the result of one incident or injury. One of the keys to having a healthy back is understanding that most back injuries are the result of the cumulative effects of months or even years of poor posture, faulty body mechanics, stressful living and working habits, loss of flexibility and strength, and a general lack of physical fitness. It you understand that things such as stooped posture, slumped sitting, improper lifting, twisting, weak abdominal muscles, tight hamstring muscles, emotional tension and even smoking are risk factors that can lead to a back problem, it becomes clear that changing some of these factors can help prevent back problems. Almost all back disorders are the result of: Poor posture Faulty body mechanics Stressful living and working habits Loss of strength and flexibility General decline of physical fitness Taking the following precautions to protect your back and help prevent further episodes of back pain: Sit, walk and stand with a balanced, relaxed posture. Think tall, chest lifted, shoulders relaxed, chin tucked in and head level.