Author Archives: Peter Sweeney

Ligament Injury: Especially at The Knee & Ankles

Ligaments are a tough band of tissues that connect our bones together. They play a significant role in facilitating smooth movement of the bones, as their function is to give a buffer when moving that safeguards the joint from any kind of damage. They are made of collagen fibres and they look like bundles. A ligament forms the joint of two bones, unlike tendons, which join bones with muscles. Ligament injury is very common; especially at the knee and ankles. This is one of the most common sports injuries, meaning there are a number of specialised clinics in London that can provide treatment for this.

What is a Ligament Injury?

Ligament injuries are quite common and can happen to anyone anytime, though athletes are prone to it. Sometimes a joint is stressed beyond its level of sustenance. This may cause it to snap. A direct heavy contact, like sudden twisting of a joint or landing in awkward posture can cause ligament injury. The knee and ankle joints bear the weight of our body and are always under high pressure. This makes them highly susceptible to injury.

There are three grades of ligament injury:

• Mild range tear
• Moderate range tear
• Complete tear

Symptoms of a Ligament Injury:

In the case of a severe trauma where a joint has been overstressed beyond its capacity, you may experience a ligament injury with the following symptoms:

• Sudden pain with swelling
• Unstable joint
• Joint functioning is hindered; manifesting as an inability to walk, run or make any movement.

Treatment of Ligament Injury:

There are world class clinics and facilities in London for treatment of ligament injury’s. But before going to the doctor, you should follow the basic rules when dealing with any kind of sprains, strains and tears. You can remember these rules using the acronym, RICE:

• R stands for rest, where you have to give rest to the affected area
• I is for ice, which means apply an ice pack in the injured part for 30 minutes every three to four hours
• C means compression, where you need to wrap the affected area with elastic or crepe bandage. This bandage will give warmth, which is needed for a quick recovery
• E which means elevation. The injured joint is given elevation with the help of traction.

These procedures are to be followed while you wait for doctor’s appointment. If the pain gets worse, you can use a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pill like asprin or ibuprofen.

In case of a mild to moderate grade of injury, medicines, self care and physiotherapies will be recommended. However, in severe cases ligament injury clinics may recommend surgery.

There are two kinds that are most common:

• Arthroscopy
• ACL reconstruction

Whether or not you undergo surgery, rest is very important when recovering from such injuries. The more you rest, the less time it will take to heal. Proper care and therapies are very important to get back the same posture and gait.

Meniscal Tear: Damage to The Meniscus

Our knee joint is formed when three bones – femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone) and patella (kneecap) – meet. The tough and rubbery cartilages act as cushions or shock absorbers for the femur and tibia, which keep the joint stable and movements smooth. These cartilages are called the Meniscus.

The Leading Medical Facility for Musculoskeletal Specialist Treatment

Harley Street Medical Centre is the leading medical facility for musculoskeletal specialist treatment. Home to the best surgeons and consultants, their equipment is state of the art and modernized in full. Their multidisciplinary team of medical professionals and paramedical support offer the highest standard of care, providing timely assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Treatment for knee, wrist, hand, shoulder, and elbow:

One must take care to avoid wearing out the joints and tissues. This is one of the cornerstones of pain management in the ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones. Any routine movement can result in pain eventually, and in these cases physiotherapy is used to halt the pain and improve the healing process.

Conditions for treatment

A painful condition may occur due to external injuries or diseases. The pain and distress vary according to the type of the ailment and the age of the patient.

Some of the conditions that need treatment include the following:

• De Quervain’s tendinitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Dupuytren’s contracture
• Fractures and joint injuries
• Rotator cuff tears
• Dislocated wrist
• Mallet finger
• Repetitive motion syndrome
• Trigger finger
• Tendon Ruptures

Each condition needs separate diagnosis by a specialist in that field. For instance, to look into the causes of and cures for shoulder pain, you need the services of an orthopedic surgeon. If the pain is due to swelling in the tissues of the shoulder joint, you must refer to a rheumatologist.

Treatment:

The treatment begins with the assessment by the team of professionals at Harley Street Medical Centre. The diagnosis includes a series of tests and scans, which may include clinical examination, blood tests, medical imaging, and gait analysis. The treatment includes guided injections, PRP treatment, and shockwave therapy among others.

Non-invasive treatment for a variety of medical conditions:

Immobilization is a manual therapy useful for bone injuries and spinal alignment problems.
Minimally invasive procedures may include a guided injection. The ultrasound-guided injection is a useful treatment for a variety of ailments such as bursitis, tendonitis, and others. You need not undergo hospitalization to have a guided injection.

Another non-invasive treatment process is shockwave treatment. It does not involve anesthetics, surgery, or pain. This is a proven musculoskeletal treatment procedure and it gives fast relief from pain. The PRP method uses platelet-rich blood and the bodies natural healing capabilities to enhance the regenerative process.

Medical imaging for studying the internal structure:

To get a thorough picture of a patient’s internal musculoskeletal state, your consultant will use imaging techniques. These include MRI, X-Ray, Ultrasound, and CT scanning, all available at Harley Street Medical Centre.

Gait analysis:

Gait analysis is used to analyze the condition of the feet and lower limbs. This involves making a video of how you walk or run and then slow the video down to identify issues or inefficiencies and is especially useful for those who are involved in sporting activities.

Orthopedic Physiotherapy Deals with Our Body’s Musculoskeletal Systems

Physiotherapy is an integral part of the recovery process. Surgeries that involve the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems often require physiotherapy sessions to help with patient rehabilitation.

Musculoskeletal Clinic: The Best Placed to Return You to Health

Health is a gift we ought to treasure. Everyone has the right to remain healthy, but even our fitness activities can cause breaks, sprains, injuries and more. Sports can result in our bones, joints and ligaments falling into poor health. If this happens, a Musculoskeletal Clinic, London is best placed to return you to health.