Physiotherapy for pre and post cardiac problems

Cardiac rehabilitation is an exercise and educational programme for the patient group who have suffered from cardiac conditions including heart attack, angioplasty, heart surgery, heart failure, angina or following a pacemaker insertion. The aim of cardiac rehab is to increase understanding of the condition, assist in recovery from surgery, procedure or heart attack, improve health, make changes to lifestyle and to reduce the risk of further heart problems.

Exercises are circuit based, start slowly and gently and are gradually increased over time. Exercises are predominately aerobic in nature to get the heart beating faster which improves heart function, muscle strength and circulation. Outcome measures are used to assess progress over the course of a programme.

A physiotherapy team from Glasgow has recently conducted some research looking into the effectiveness of a home based pre-operative exercise programme and assessing how this improves a post-operative recovery and functional capacity. They have won an award for this research from the Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons. Their research hopes to demonstrate how having physiotherapy prior to any heart surgery can increase recovery and reduces hospital length of stay. This is equally as important post-operatively or post heart attack to maximise attaining pre-baseline functioning. It is essential your recovery is well monitored by a professional Physiotherapist.

At Silver Physio we are able to provide you with an individualised exercise programme to enhance recovery from a cardiac procedure, surgery or condition. Contact us now on 020 3637 8988 to find out more.

Osteoarthritis – what can Physiotherapy do to help!

Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the joints in the body, caused by wear and tear. Common symptoms include pain in the joints, tenderness and stiffness, inflammation at the joint, reduced movement, weakness and muscle wasting. For some people, the symptoms can be mild and intermittent. Other people can experience more continuous and severe problems which make it difficult to carry out everyday activities.

Physiotherapy for patients suffering from osteoarthritis has many benefits. It can reduce pain, improve function and muscle strength. Physiotherapists can use manual techniques and hydrotherapy as well as educating and providing an exercise programme.

Participation in an exercise programme even once a week can have an impact on both pain and function and at SilverPhysio, we are able to devise an individualised exercise programme for our clients who suffer from osteoarthritis. We teach our clients how they can manage their pain and educate them on osteoarthritis.

Call us at SilerPhysio now on 020 3637 8988 to find out more.

A common muskuloskeletal complaint: BACK PAIN

Back pain is a large cause of disability in the UK. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have launched a new evidence based guide to back pain. The guide states that back pain is very common however the spine is strong, is not easily damaged and that in 98% of cases of back pain, people recover quickly.

The guide expresses that exercise and activity reduces and prevents back pain. Inactivity and bed rest is highly discouraged and that non-surgical options should always come first, including physiotherapy.

Physiotherapists can provide expert advice, guidance and treatment for back pain, including and not exclusive to soft tissue and joint mobilisation, acupuncture and exercise programmes, including Pilates. It is also essential to ascertain whether there are any other contributing factors to the pain one is experiencing. We at Silver Physio use a holistic approach to manage all muskuloskeletal complaints, and thus prevent further long term damage occuring.

Please initially consult your GP If you are experiencing the following rare symptoms:

* Difficulty passing urine or having the sensation to pass water that is not there

* Loss of bladder or bowel control

* Loss of power in your legs

* Feeling unwell with your back pain, such as a fever or significant sweating that wakes you from sleep

* Numbness/tingling in your genitals or buttocks area

If you are suffering from back pain, get in touch with us at Silver Physio on 020 3637 8988 for treatment with one of our experienced physiotherapists.

“2 out of 3 Stroke sufferers leave hospital with a disability” – why are they being discharged home prematurely?

Stroke survivors leave hospital requiring help in their homes where daily struggles can have a catastrophic and very expensive impact as almost a third of this patient population receive no social service visits, according to the Stroke Association.

It is widely known that Physiotherapy delivered as early as possible, as well as consistently can be the most effective method in preventing long term problems. However 45% of patients discharged from hospital get no further community therapy support and input.

Stroke is a recovering condition unlike a lot of neurological conditions, which are degenerative, so there is a real reason for investing in appropriate therapy as soon as possible. This will enable people of working age to get back to work or others to achieve their pre-baseline functional status. It also reduces the costs of long term care.

We at SilverPhysio aim to not only years to the lives of those affected by Stroke, but also adding life to those years. We incorporate multi-disciplinary therapies as necessary and design a holistic treatment plan. This is particularly true in our home-based care approach, which takes into account social, environmental and psychological factors, as well including family and carers.

To arrange a domiciliary visit at a time the suits you, please send an email at: office@silverphysio.co.uk or telephone: 020 3637 8988.

Spasticity Management

What is Spasticity –  “a motor disorder characterised by a velocity dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes, with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex, as one component of the upper motor neurone syndrome (UMN)” (Lance 1980).

UMN Syndrome can be classified by different features:

POSITIVE FEATURES

  • Spasticity
  • Spasms (Flexor, Extensor and Adductor)
  • Increase in tendon reflexes
  • Extensor plantar responses
  • Clonus
  • Positive support reaction

NEGATIVE FEATURES

  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of Dexterity

Clinical triggers for increased spasticity are:

  • Pain
  • Bowels
  • Bladder
  • Skin
  • Splints/orthotics
  • Positioning (poor)

This is where Physiotherapy is so vital in preventing these triggers from occurring. Silver Physio are specialists in 24 hour management of neurological conditions with complex presentations. We aim to improve function and prevent further disability hence maintaining the most optimal, independent level of function.

To see how we can help you, call us now on tel: 020 3637 8988 or email: office@silverphysio.co.uk

Non-urgent surgery

The NHS has recently announced that people will have longer to wait for non-urgent surgeries like a hip or knee replacement. This means people will have to suffer in pain for longer, but the NHS justifies this as a means of survival. GPs will also have to reduce referrals to the hospitals made for these kinds of operations and seek conservative measures for management of this client group.

This is therefore an even more crucial time to make sure you are in the best pre operative state as possible. Physiotherapy is an important part of this process and can hopefully delay having an operation in the first instant. Exercise, weight loss and good nutritional habits have been shown to be very effective.

SilverPhysio specialises in exactly this kind of prehabilitation method to ensure our clients adopt a holistic approach and self management strategy. We treat you in the comfort of your home to reduce travel times and stressful waiting periods.

Contact us now to book an appointment and get the process started ASAP.

Telephone: 07921215788 or email: office@silverphysio.co.uk

Daniella Silver

Tel: 07921215788

THINK “BIG” – Parkinson’s Disease strategy

Physiotherapy technique showing improved motor function in patients suffering with Parkinson’s disease.

Bradykinesia – a common symptom displayed in Parkinson’s disease meaning slowness of movement whereby physical movements are much slower than normal. This makes activities of daily living difficult and can result in distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps, often leading to an inability to initiate movement ‘freezing’ in a certain position.

Physiotherapy and exercise prescription has proven to provide symptom management showing improvements in balance, gait, flexibility, strength and co-ordination. Evidence supports physical exercise in Parkinson disease patients promoting brain health and optimising brain function via activity dependent neuroplasticity mechanisms. These mechanisms help restore damaged pathways and improve the efficiency of undamaged pathways.

There are many treatment techniques focused at improving Parkinson’s disease symptoms including Tai chi, Pilates, Stretching, gait re-education, cardio vascular based exercises, personalised home exercise programme to name a few.

LSVT BIG is another treatment technique aimed at achieving a single goal of THINKING BIG! LSVT BIG targets bradykinesia  by training a patient to use a bigger effort in all aspects of daily living with repetitive practice to teach the patient to produce and perceive the action of normal movement. The LSVT exercise protocol is delivered in 1:1 sessions by a Physiotherapist. Patients are treated for an hour4 days per week for 4 weeks and during the therapy sessions are taught to make a big effort through big steps and big gestures. Also, through intensive motivation and feedback on performance, patients complete goal orientated activities of daily living using high amplitude movements which are transferable to life after the sessions are complete. The aim is to achieve maximal neuroplasticity within the brain to improve Parkinson symptoms through high effort and intensive repetitive practice within the LSVT BIG programme.

Examples of BIG exercises include:

• Floor to ceiling stretch in sitting.

• Side to side stretching in sitting.

• Stepping and reaching forwards/ sideways and backwards

• Rock and reach forwards/backwards/sideways

• BIG rolling

• BIG sit to stand with varying arm movements

• Walking and turning

• BIG activities of daily living (targeted to specific requirements of patient)

 

Contact us now on tel: 07921215788 or email: office@silverphysio.co.uk

Holistic Physiotherapy

As a physiotherapist with a variety of skills and interests, I have always been a very strong advocate of holistic and multi-treatment therapies. Therefore enriching  your knowledge is great for the professional mind and body and fantastic to fill up the CPD file too. The new skills learned are fundamental to transfer and apply to your clinical practice and enhance the rehabilitation of your patients. But the best outcome of a course is most definitely when you make a difference to the course instructor!

Difficulty with gluteus medius activation and a dysfunctional sacro-iliac joint had resulted in the inability to do a single leg squat. Apply a bit of PowerTape RockTape to the unilateral SIJ in question and VOILA – a perfect single leg squat achieved. Carry over with repetitive and then functional rehabilitation and we have a much happier, more stable and active patient.. Job done as a physiotherapist with an added tool in the box!

To see how we at SilverPhysio can help prevent injury and improve function, contact us now on tel: 07921215788 or email: office@silverphysio.co.uk
Daniella Silver

Tel: 07921215788

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy says that Physiotherapists are crucial in preventing geriatric frailty.

SilverPhysio specialises in treating each patient with individuality and ensure a treatment plan is tailored to your needs.

We are living in an ageing population and with the cost of care soaring, more people are hoping to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.

This is where SilverPhysio can help you. We treat people in the comfort of their own environment so as to avoid the stress of travelling to a clinic. This has also shown to be beneficial in providing confidence and reassurance to the older population.

Exercise has proven to improve muscle mass, balance and prevent the occurrence of falls; the latter one can be detrimental in an older person where the risk of fractures and possible infection is that much higher. It would also improve levels of fatigue and aid in encouraging independence, hence reducing the need for additional care.

To see how exercise can benefit you or your loved ones, contact SilverPhysio now on tel: 07921215788 or email: office@silverphysio.co.uk

Daniella Silver

Tel: 07921215788