Wrist Stiffness

Wrist stiffness is a condition characterized by reduced flexibility, discomfort, or difficulty in moving the wrist joint. It can result from various causes, including injury, overuse, inflammation, or underlying medical conditions affecting the bones, ligaments, or tendons in the wrist.

Symptoms of wrist stiffness: Some people may develop the following symptoms:

• Stiffness: A person may feel this through their wrist and potentially in their fingers.
• Trouble gripping objects: Wrist pain may make grasping or holding on to objects difficult or uncomfortable.
• A clicking sound when moving the wrist: This can be more severe after periods of rest.

Causes of wrist stiffness: Injuries and health conditions that affect the bones and tissue in your wrist are the most common causes of wrist stiffness.

Injuries that cause wrist stiffness: Any physical damage to your wrist can cause pain. Some of the most common injuries that cause wrist stiffness include:

• Overuse and repetitive strain injuries.
• Wrist sprains.
• Sports injuries.
• Falls.
• Bone fractures.
• Nerve injuries or pinched nerves.

Health conditions that cause wrist stiffness: Health conditions can often cause wrist stiffness. This type of wrist pain tends to build up over time. Some of the most common causes of wrist stiffness include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Wrist tendinitis.
• Wrist arthritis.
• Bursitis.
• Ganglion cysts.
• Infections.

Diagnosis of wrist stiffness: During the physical exam, your health care provider may:

• Check your wrist for tenderness, swelling or deformity
• Ask you to move your wrist to check for a decrease in your range of motion
• Check your grip strength and forearm strength

Imaging tests may include:

• X-ray: This is the most commonly used test for wrist stiffness. Using a small amount of radiation, X-rays can reveal bone fractures or signs of osteoarthritis.
• CT: This scan can provide more-detailed views of the bones in the wrist and may spot fractures that don't show up on X-rays.
• MRI: This test uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of the bones and soft tissues. For a wrist MRI, you may be able to insert your arm into a smaller device instead of a whole-body MRI machine.

Treatment of wrist stiffness: Which treatments you’ll need depends on what’s causing pain in your wrist. You might be able to relieve wrist stiffness with at home treatments. A healthcare provider will suggest treatment options and tell you how long you’ll need them.

Some of the most common treatments for wrist stiffness include:

• Rest: Taking a break from work, hobbies or sports that caused a wrist injury will give your wrist time to heal.
• Icing: Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes a few times a day. Don’t apply ice directly to your skin (wrap the ice pack in a towel or washcloth).
• Ergonomic adjustments: Changing your hand’s position during repetitive motions can reduce stress on the wrist that’s causing pain.
• Immobilization: You might need to wear a cast, splint or brace to hold your wrist in place and take pressure off it while it heals.
• Surgery: You may need surgery to remove a growth or repair nerve compression, tendon or ligament tears, fix fractures or treat arthritis. Wrist surgery can be open or arthroscopic.
• Physical therapy: A physical therapist can give you exercises to increase your wrist’s strength and flexibility.

Exercise of wrist stiffness: After any problem in the wrists, hands or fingers, it’s important to get movement and strength back. This supports tissue healing and will help you get moving again. When doing exercise you should listen to your pain levels, especially in the early stages. You may find that these exercises increase your symptoms slightly in the beginning. 

However, they should get easier over time and, with regular practice, can help to improve movement in the wrists, hands or fingers.

• Wrist flexion and extension
• Hand flip
• Wrist radial and ulnar deviation
• Wrist extensor stretch
• Wrist flexor stretch

Effective management of  Wrist Stiffness at Spine Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) in Shyamoli requires teamwork among medical professionals and patients, which in turn improves the patients' quality of life.

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Elbow Stiffness

Elbow stiffness is mainly determined by the degree of the joint injury. However, it is also influenced by periosteum loss and immobilization time. These causes may explain why major contractures are observed, despite obtaining adequate reduction and stability, or even in fractures without displacement. Other non-traumatic causes of stiffness are hemophilia, sequelae of infections, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Among congenital causes, the arthrogryposis and congenital dislocation of the radial head are distinguished.

Symptoms of Elbow Stiffness: The main symptoms are a loss of movement in the elbow. Normally, the elbow can straighten fully (extend) and bend (flex) sufficiently to allow us to perform the movements we need. The elbow is also involved in movements required to rotate the forearm and hand (pronate and supinate). Loss of any of these movements can be a sign of a problem within the elbow (or wrist). Some patients can experience pain and grating with elbow movements, while others may have the sensation of the elbow locking or jamming. These are characteristic of different problems in the elbow and can assist in making the diagnosis.

Causes of Elbow Stiffness: Causes of elbow stiffnesses are numerous and can be classified as traumatic or atraumatic; congenital or acquired.

• Post-injury stiffness: The most common cause in our population is post-injury stiffness of the elbow.
• Other diseases: A stiff elbow joint can also arise due to other diseases like infection and auto-inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis).
• Congenital problems: Certain congenital problems may also present with elbow stiffness.

Diagnosis of Elbow Stiffness: Patients may experience difficulty reaching or in some instances pain at the end of the range of movements. Examination of the joint shows reduced movements when compared to the opposite side (if normal). An X-ray may be performed to look for loose bodies, bony spurs and to assess the joint surfaces. Special imaging with an MRI or CT scan may be necessary to look at the bearing surface and identify small bone spurs, which can impede movements.

Treatment of Elbow Stiffness: Elbow stiffness can result from various conditions, such as injuries, overuse, arthritis, or post-surgical recovery. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in addressing elbow stiffness by focusing on improving range of motion, reducing pain, and restoring function. Here are some common physiotherapy treatments for elbow stiffness:

1. Range of Motion Exercises:

• Passive range of motion (PROM) exercises: The physiotherapist gently moves the patient's elbow through its range of motion without the patient using their muscles. This helps prevent further stiffness and maintains joint flexibility.
• Active range of motion (AROM) exercises: The patient performs controlled movements of the elbow on their own to improve flexibility.

2. Strengthening Exercises:

• Progressive resistance exercises: Gradual introduction of resistance to exercises helps build strength in the muscles around the elbow, promoting stability and function.
• Eccentric exercises: These involve controlled lengthening of muscles during contraction and can be beneficial in strengthening the elbow.

3. Joint Mobilization:

• Manual therapy techniques, including joint mobilizations, can help improve joint mobility. The physiotherapist uses hands-on techniques to gently move the joint through its natural range of motion, reducing stiffness.

4. Soft Tissue Mobilization:

• Massage and soft tissue mobilization techniques can help relax and stretch the muscles and tendons around the elbow, reducing tightness and promoting flexibility.

5. Ultrasound and Heat Therapy:

• Ultrasound therapy can promote blood flow and accelerate the healing process.
• Heat therapy (e.g., warm packs) can help relax muscles and reduce stiffness.

6. Cold Therapy:

• Cold packs or ice massage may be applied to reduce inflammation and numb pain in case of acute stiffness.

7. Neuromuscular Techniques:

• Neuromuscular re-education focuses on improving muscle control and coordination, helping the patient regain proper movement patterns.

Exercise of Elbow Stiffness: Elbow pain can be very uncomfortable to live with. Unless there is a specific reason for the pin, it may be due to a tennis elbow. Tennis elbow suggests overuse of the elbow joint that might cause pain and discomfort to the elbows. The best way to avoid tennis elbow is to stretch regularly and not overwork the joint. In this article, we discuss some easy-to-follow exercises that can significantly lower the pain in your elbows.

• Elbow bend
• 90-degree wrist flex
• Wrist turn
• Towel twist
• Wrist extension

Effective management of Elbow Stiffness at Spine Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) in Shyamoli requires teamwork among medical professionals and patients, which in turn improves the patients' quality of life.

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Knee Stiffness

A stiff knee is a common complaint, especially among older adults and those who are very physically active. Knee stiffness can occur as a result of poor flexibility or muscular imbalances in the legs. Injury and arthritis are other common causes of knee stiffness.

Symptoms of knee stiffness: One of the most common early symptoms of knee stiffness is morning stiffness, where your knee feels stiff and achy for the first 30 minutes to an hour after waking up. You might also experience a feeling of tightness or difficulty bending your knee, especially after sitting for a prolonged period. 

Other common symptoms may include:

• Creaking or grinding sounds
• A feeling of instability or weakness in the knee
• Difficulty bending or straightening the knee
• Pain in the knee, which may be worse with movement
• Reduced range of motion
• Swelling and inflammation

Causes of knee stiffness: One of the most common causes of knee stiffness is osteoarthritis of the knee, which causes the breakdown of cartilage and bone in the knee joint. However, knee stiffness can also be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from minor muscle strain to injuries Here are some of the other common causes of stiffness in the knee:

• Bursitis
• Fractures
• Gout
• Knee ligament injuries
• Meniscus Injuries
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tendonitis

Treatment of knee stiffness: A stiff knee can be frustrating, but it shouldn’t keep you from doing the activities you love. Here are some suggestions from Hinge Health physical therapists that can help loosen a stiff knee and get you moving again.

• Consider physical therapy: If your knee feels too stiff to exercise comfortably on your own, or you don’t notice an improvement after a week or two of exercise, consider physical therapy. A physical therapist (PT) can address the underlying causes of your knee stiffness, and work with you on a strengthening and stretching regimen to help relieve it. 
• Apply heat: Heat increases blood flow and can reduce stiffness, says Dr. Kimbrough. Apply moist heat, like a hot water bottle or warm, damp towel, as needed for 20 minutes at a time. If knee stiffness is due to a new injury, you are better off using ice, to initially relieve inflammation.
• Try over-the-counter (OTC) medication: Pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be helpful for stiff knee pain. It’s important to make sure that you are safely able to take these medications, based on your medical history.
• Eat anti-inflammatory foods: Fruits, veggies, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats like avocado and olive oil, help to relieve inflammation, which plays a role in knee stiffness. Research shows that people with knee osteoarthritis who follow this eating style report reduced symptoms, including less stiffness.
• Use knee braces strategically: If you find your knee stiffness makes it hard to exercise, it’s fine to use an over-the-counter knee brace during workouts.

Exercises of knee stiffness: In some cases, people with a stiff knee should avoid exercising. Some knee injuries need time to heal and would benefit from rest instead of exercise.

• Strengthening exercises: Increasing muscle strength around the knee reduces the stress on the joint. Examples of these exercises include leg lifts and hamstring curls.

• Range-of-motion exercises: Stretches and exercises that increase the knee’s range of motion keep the joint moving to reduce stiffness. Examples of these exercises include heel slides and stretching with a yoga strap.

• Aerobic exercises: Cardio exercises can boost a person’s energy levels and reduce any excess weight that may put extra pressure on the knee. Examples of these exercises include cycling and swimming.

• Balance exercises: These exercises strengthen the muscles around the knee while also reducing the risk of falling, which could damage the joint further. Examples of these exercises include single leg standing and standing on a foam pad.

Are you experiencing Knee Stiffness? We can help develop a treatment and exercise plan to help you recover. Request for Appointment today.

Post Operative Physiotherapy

Post operative rehabilitation physiotherapy is a unique type of physiotherapy for patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries. Surgical doctors also advise patients to get physiotherapy treatment to achieve better surgery results. Physiotherapists are already familiar with the guidelines that your doctor prescribed. Look for a professional physiotherapist who has knowledge and experience to adjust your problems through specific rehabilitation programs based on your circumstances.

Who can get the benefit from Post Operative Rehabilitation?

Post Operative rehabilitation physiotherapy is available for anyone who has had surgery or experiencing pain, muscle weakness, stiffness, reduced mobility, reduced independence, and low exercise tolerance; all of them can get benefits from post-operative rehabilitation.

Surgery has benefits, but it may affect your physical and psychological state and maybe the reason for anxiety and frustration. Usually, people get bored and feel pressure and frustration. Visiting physiotherapists will help you; the physiotherapist will provide you with a full exercise program that will help you to achieve your short and long-term health goals and maximize your recovery potential.

What are the benefits of post-surgical physiotherapy?

While surgery can certainly treat health conditions that can't be addressed with more non-invasive methods, it may also affect you physically and psychologically, potentially causing frustration and anxiety. 

Pain and inflammation are common after surgery. That said, physiotherapy can help treat these, promote early healing and help maximize your potential as you recover. Seeing a physiotherapist can help you:

• Return to physical and recreational activities and sports.
• Reduce stress and anxiety.
• Build confidence.
• Prevent boredom from setting in
• Find relief from pain and stiffness by exercising the muscles.
• Achieve short and long-term health goals.

Post Operative Physiotherapy specific treatment plan: Physiotherapy after surgery is often an essential part of the healing process since it helps patients regain strength and mobility. Physical therapists collaborate with patients to create a specific treatment plan that includes mobility and range of motion exercises to help reduce swelling and inflammation. Patients can improve their balance and coordination with post-operative physiotherapy, which helps them avoid falls and other accidents. For patients to heal fully and enhance their quality of life, post-operative physiotherapy is an important aspect of many treatment plans.

• Pain Management: Pain control is one of post-operative physiotherapy’s main objectives. This could entail applying a variety of methods, such as massage, heat therapy, ice therapy and exercises to increase circulation and decrease inflammation. Effective pain management enables patients to move and exercise, which helps with the healing process.
• Reduction of Swelling and Inflammation: Another reason to priorities post-operative physiotherapy is to help reduce swelling and inflammation. To accomplish this, your physiotherapist may encourage compression clothing, elevation as well as workouts to help with lymphatic drainage. Patients can often restore their mobility and range of motion more rapidly by minimizing swelling and inflammation, which can, in turn, speed up their rehabilitation.
• Regaining Range of Motion and Mobility: Regaining range of motion and mobility is another key goal of post-operative physiotherapy. This can involve exercises that focus on stretching, strengthening and mobilizing the affected area. By gradually increasing movement and flexibility, patients can improve their physical function and move towards regaining their independence.
• Strengthening of Muscles and Tissues: Muscle and tissue strengthening is a significant component of post-operative physiotherapy. Exercises aimed at increasing muscle strength and endurance, as well as joint stability and balance, can be included in this.
• Improving Balance and Coordination: One of the most important aspects of post-operative physiotherapy is restoring balance and coordination. Exercises that specific treatment plan proprioception that is, the body’s capacity to detect its position in space might be necessary for this. Patients can aim to increase their total functional capacity by enhancing their balance and coordination.

Post Operative Physiotherapy Exercises: Major abdominal surgery combine with a general anesthetic can lead to problems with clearing secretions from the lungs and reduced mobility. There are many ways you can help aid your recovery. This information leaflet has been put together to help you with some gentle physical and breathing exercises that you can do yourself which will help with your recovery. Gentle physical exercise can help to prevent chest infections and blood clots and can restore muscle strength, motion and flexibility. Breathing exercises can help with moving secretions and prevent a chest infection.

• Active Breathing Cycle Technique (ACBT)
• Relaxed Breathing / Breathing Control
• Deep Breathing
• Huff
• Cough
• Adaptations
• Deep Breathing, coughing and pain control
• Mobility
• Chair exercises

Simply Contact Us or give one of our physiotherapists a call on 01750-375987 or email us on shumonreza006@gmail.com to book a physiotherapy appointment.

Post Fracture Rehabilitation

Fractures range from minor cracks in a bone to severe breaks that can displace the bone and pierce the skin. Physiotherapy can promote healing and recovery, and the earlier it’s introduced after immobilization, the better. Physiotherapy starts in the hospital when you start using assistive devices like crutches and slings. The next stage is seeing a physiotherapist to get you moving in ways that strengthen your bones and your muscles.

Your first physio visit for post-fracture rehabilitation will be an evaluation assessment to determine your range of motion, pain, gait, and flexibility. From this, your physiotherapist will determine the best active and passive treatments to overcome the adverse effects of immobilization, such as loss of motion, and improve functional mobility, helping you return to normal more quickly.

What is a fracture?

A fracture is a broken bone that varies in presentation depending on the direction and force causing the break. A linear fracture is a straight break along the long axis of the bone. An oblique fracture is at an angle across the bone, creating a sloped break line. Pathological fractures occur when an underlying disease has already weakened the bone. Spiral fractures are caused by a twisting force, breaking the bone in a spiral pattern.

How are fractures treated?

The first step in treating a fracture is immobilization to stabilize the bone by casting or splinting the affected area.

More severe fractures may require surgery to realign the bones or use metalwork like plates, screws, or rods to provide support and hold the bones in the proper position.

The type of fracture determines the immobilization approach. Stable fractures that haven’t shifted alignment usually only need a cast. Unstable, displaced fractures require surgery before casting or splinting. Open fractures with broken skin need emergency surgery and antibiotics to prevent infection.

Follow-up X-rays monitor healing progress and assist in decisions about when removing casts or other devices is safe. The less a fractured bone moves early on, the more likely it is to heal properly, making physical rehabilitation crucial.

Implications for rehabilitation:

Moving as much as possible is vital after fracture immobilization to rebuild strength and mobility following a loss of flexibility, muscle mass and stamina. It also decreases the risk of complications like blood clots from poor circulation.

Gentle range-of-motion and stretching exercises improve flexibility, while light strength training helps regain muscle mass lost during immobilization, and targeted exercises facilitate using the healing limb in daily tasks.

The physio adjusts activities as the fracture site heals to increase challenge and gradually restore normal function. They may use adjunct therapies like ultrasound, heat/ice, and electrical stimulation to control pain and swelling during rehabilitation sessions. Home exercise programmers reinforce gains made with supervised rehabilitation.

The goal of rehabilitation is to help you maximize your function after a fracture and speed up recovery times.

Physiotherapy as post fracture rehabilitation:

Physiotherapy involves hands-on techniques to promote healing after a fracture. Joint mobilization and manipulation, remedial massage, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) are three specific methods that can facilitate recovery.

Joint mobilization and manipulation get the joint and bone moving, achieving movements that are impossible to do alone due to pain.

Remedial massage involves a physiotherapist manipulating the soft tissues around a fracture site – helping improve range of motion problems from prolonged bone immobilization.

We find that remedial massage reduces pain in patients and promotes confidence in using the bone, helping stimulate healing further.

ESWT delivers high-energy sound waves to the injured area through a handheld applicator. These acoustic pulses trigger anti-inflammatory reactions, stimulate cell regeneration, and encourage new blood vessels, speeding up the natural healing cascade. The treatment is never done directly over the fracture site, but adjacent to stimulate circulation. ESWT also overrides pain signals and is non-invasive with very few side effects, enabling patients to benefit early on in rehabilitation.

Importance of physiotherapy in fracture rehabilitation:

Manual therapies like joint mobilization and remedial massage are essential for managing pain, swelling, and muscle tightness following a fracture. Benefits include:

• Restores mobility and range of motion: Physiotherapy helps stretch, strengthen, and mobilize the area around the fracture to improve flexibility and movement, preventing stiffness or contractures from developing.
• Relieves pain and swelling: Physiotherapists use modalities like heat/ice therapy, TENS, ultrasound, etc., to help manage pain and inflammation after a fracture.
• Prevents muscle atrophy: Being immobile for a long time after a fracture can cause significant muscle loss. Physiotherapy provides exercises to rebuild muscle strength.
• Improves stability and weight-bearing: Weight-bearing exercises and balance training help improve the ability to bear weight through the affected limb.
• Faster recovery: Starting physiotherapy soon after the fracture and surgery can significantly speed up the healing and recovery.
• Prevents complications: Regular physiotherapy helps prevent complications like thrombus formation, improper bone healing, and joint stiffness and helps regain pre-injury status faster.
• Psychosocial benefits: Physiotherapy provides encouragement and motivation during the recovery process after an injury. Setting goals aids positive mental health and can make a huge difference in your recovery journey.

How Physiotherapy can help?

We know the frustration of recovery after a fracture. Regaining mobility and strength can feel like an uphill battle. That’s why our experienced physiotherapists use proven techniques to get you back on your feet. We alleviate pain and restore function through joint manipulation, soft tissue massage, and customized exercise plans. Our hands-on approach targets the root of dysfunction, not just the symptoms. We dig deep to relax contracted muscles, mobilize stiff joints, and retrain proper movement patterns. And we don’t stop there we empower you with the knowledge and tools for self-care, preventing re-injury down the road.

Whether it’s a broken wrist or a hip fracture, our physiotherapists have successfully rehabilitated countless patients. With research-backed treatment and unwavering encouragement, we help you regain strength, confidence, and quality of life. Contact us or book online today to start your fracture rehabilitation.

If you have sustained a fracture, and you are looking for relief, contact Spine Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) to learn about our post-fracture rehab services.

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Heel Pain

Heel pain is a very common foot and ankle problem. You might experience pain, soreness or tenderness anywhere in your heel, but the most common areas are underneath it or the back of it. There are many different health conditions that can cause heel pain, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis.

Heel pain can make it difficult to walk and participate in daily activities. It’s important to see your healthcare provider to help you determine the exact cause of pain in the heel of your foot. Most heel conditions improve with nonsurgical treatments, but your body will need time to recover.

Symptoms of heel pain: Heel Pain typically stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot near the heel. The pain is usually the worst with the first few steps after awakening, although it also can be triggered by long periods of standing or when you get up from sitting.

• Pain in the back of the heel, and in the ankle and calf.
• Redness and swelling, dull aching pain in heel.
• Sudden sharp pain in heel, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury, difficulty walking.

Causes of heel pain: Heel pain causes range from mild to severe, depending on the location of the pain. You may experience sudden heel pain without injury or pain that develops over time. Several problems are located at the back of the heel:

• Achilles tendinitis: Your Achilles tendon is a fibrous tissue that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. It’s your body’s longest and strongest tendon. Runners and basketball players are more prone to Achilles tendinitis. This overuse injury inflames the tendon. Tendonitis causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the back of your heel.
• Bursitis: Bursitis occurs when fluid-filled sacs called bursae (plural of bursa) swell. These sacs cushion your joints, allowing for fluid movement. You may have a tender, bruise-like feeling in the back of your heel. Bursitis typically occurs after you spend a lot of time on your feet.
• Haglund’s deformity: Chronic inflammation and irritation can cause an enlarged, bony bump (called a pump bump) to form in the back of your heel. Shoes with higher heels, like pumps, can make the bump and pain worse.
• Sever’s disease (calcaneal apophysitis): Sever’s disease is a frequent cause of heel pain in active children between the ages of 8 and 14. Kids who participate in activities that require a lot of running and jumping are more prone to this problem. The increased athletic activity irritates the growth plate in the back of their heels.

Diagnosis of heel pain: Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and perform a physical exam. You may also get X-rays to check for arthritis, bone fractures, bone misalignment and joint damage.

Rarely will you initially need an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or ultrasound. These can show soft tissue problems that X-rays don’t reveal.

Treatment of heel pain: Most people recover with conservative treatments within months. Treatment options include the following:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce pain and swelling.
• Corticosteroid injections may work if NSAIDs are not effective.
• Physical therapy can teach exercises that strengthen the lower leg muscles.
• Athletic taping gives the bottom of the foot better support.
• Orthotics, or assistive devices, and insoles can help correct foot deformities.

Exercises of heel pain: Heel pain compromises the healthy function of the plantar fascia ligament spanning the heel, arch and ball of your foot. Engaging in simple exercises can help improve the strength and stretching ability of this vital ligament. 

All of the following exercises can be done in the comfort of your own home and involve little or no cost. When used in conjunction with rest, icing and a good orthotic shoe insert, these heel pain exercises can lead to a remarkable reduction in Plantar Fasciitis symptoms.

• Calf stretch
• Rolling stretch
• Seated foot stretch
• Towel curls
• Marble pickup

Effective management of Heel Pain at Spine Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) in Shyamoli requires teamwork among medical professionals and patients, which in turn improves the patients' quality of life.

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