At Mike Varney Physiotherapy we treat a vast array of conditions and ailments with our extensive range of treatments and therapies. Some of the most common conditions we deal with are:
Headaches & Migraines
Headaches affect millions of people each year. Your GP is normally the first port of call for such problems, however many headaches arise from the upper part of the neck. It is quite common following whiplash injuries to develop headaches and neck problems simultaneously. Gentle physiotherapy, for example massage and electrotherapy, can help in conjunction with postural advice. There also may be a need to check the position of computer desk and seat either at work or at home.
Neck Pain
Cervical (neck) pain is extremely common. It can vary from dull to sharp, intermittent or constant pain and loss of movement. Everyone knows that severe whiplash injuries cause neck problems but many pain syndromes can be due to gradual wear within the structures of the spine. These can be made worse by poor posture, poor working position, bio-mechanical changes such as driving long distances, sporting collisions and falls. Treatment of soft tissue massage and gentle mobilisation can bring about improvement of range of movement and reduction of pain.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder or adhesive Capsulitis can be a spontaneous or post injury onset of pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. It commonly occurs between the ages of 40 and 60 years and is more prevalent in women than men. Frozen shoulder is a self limiting injury that resolves on average over 2.5 years; however physiotherapy modalities can quicken recovery. Treatment is focused upon electrotherapy, mobilisations to the shoulder joint and deep tissue massage to reduce muscular spasm surrounding the joint.
Lower Back Pain
Low back pain affects over 80% of adults. Most acute back problems can resolve over a 3 month period but unfortunately many of these re-occur at some future date. The classification of non – specific low back pain is a label often attached to lumbar problems. Such injuries are usually due to a mechanical failure (lifting and twisting simultaneously). Treatment includes electrotherapy, acupuncture, mobilisation of spinal joints, massage to relax muscles in spasm and core stability exercises to help stabilise the area.
Hip & Groin Pain
Hip pain in sportsmen can due be soft tissue injury surrounding the joint and in older patients may indicate wear and tear within the joint. The muscles passing over the hip joint and into the legs can be injured in various sports which involve sudden changes of direction. These can be acute and last just a few weeks or chronic lasting many months. In some cases a Gilmore’s Groin can be detected and this generally leads to surgical repair. Treatment is focused upon electrotherapy and manual techniques such as mobilisations and manipulations as well as eradication of poor technique in running, kicking, turning etc
Sciatica
Sciatica is a term referring to the altered sensation down the back of the legs and into the calf. Symptoms can consist of pins and needles, numbness, cramp or pain. It occurs when the nerves which run to the pelvis and legs are compressed within the vertebral column. Treatment is directed towards pain relief such as Electrotherapy, Acupuncture, Mobilisation of Spinal Joints, Massage and Rehabilitation Exercises. Your therapist will pay attention to your sitting and standing posture and may ask you to describe your work station or work environment.
Knee Injuries: Ligaments & Cartilage
The knee has several different structures which can become injured during activity or sudden changes of direction. These include ligaments, which connect the bones together and cartilage which acts as a shock absorber and helps stabilise the knee. The ligaments can be sprained or torn if the leg is twisted whilst it’s straightened. Treatment consists of electrotherapy, deep tissue massage to surrounding muscles, acupuncture, and strengthening rehabilitation programmes. Some cartilage injuries may require surgery.
Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains occur in activities requiring rapid changes of direction, uneven surfaces or jumping onto an obstruction (for example another player’s foot). Ligament injuries of the ankle require ice treatment immediately after incidence to reduce swelling and bruising. Treatment is focused upon electrotherapy, deep tissue massage, mobilisations, acupuncture and strengthening programmes.
Plantarfasciitis
Plantar fasciitis can come from a number of underlying causes. Finding the precise reason for the heel pain is sometimes difficult. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis include pain along the inside edge of the heel near the arch of the foot. The pain is worse when weight is placed on the foot and increases after prolonged standing. Most patients get better with the help of nonsurgical treatments. Stretches for the calf muscles on the back of the lower leg take tension off the plantar fascia along with deep tissue massage. Other treatments include: shockwave therapy, electrotherapy, and acupuncture.
These are just some of the many conditions and complaints that we help our clients with. If we have not mentioned a condition that you are suffering from, it does not mean to say that we cannot treat or assist you. Please feel free to contact us for some friendly advice, or to book an appointment. You may also find useful information on our News & Advice blog pages.
