What we treat

Our therapists work with a diversified range of clients; from elite level athletes to the less active with the oldest patient being ninety-three and the youngest a few months.

We treat a great number of musculoskeletal conditions and consequently are not be able to include them all. However, below are some of the most common conditions we treat.

Please visit our home page and click the relevant heading for issues relating to podiatry/chiropody and diet.

Full treatment list

A full list of treatments appears below. These include the treatments available in the image above.

General treatments

Muscle Injuries

Muscle injuries are a common injury caused by overstretching, direct trauma and overtraining. Common areas injured include the hamstrings, quadriceps, groins, calf's and biceps. Muscle injuries are often classified as:

1st degree strain:
Describes a mild strain. Localized pain with no great loss in strength and range of movement.

2nd degree strain:
Describes a more significant injury with pain when contracting the muscle and limited strength and function.

3rd degree strain:
Rupture of the muscle. Unable to contract the muscle.

It is quite common with a significant muscle injury to observe swelling and bruising over the damaged area and often travelling some distance below the injury. Muscle injuries should be assessed quickly to ascertain the degree of damage in order for the appropriate treatment to be applied.

Ligament Injuries

Common ligament injuries are to the medial/lateral knee, anterior cruciate ligament of the knee and ankle ligament sprains. Treatment is also provided for those who have had surgery, e.g. anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Tendon Injuries

Common tendon injuries include achillies tendonitis, patellar tendinopathy and rotator cuff injuries (shoulder). Treatment is also provided for patients who have had surgery such as rotator cuff repair.

Cartilage Injuries

Common cartilage injuries are to the knee and hip. Treatment is also provided for those who have had surgery such as a knee arthroscopy and meniscus repairs.

Fracture

During periods of immobilization to allow healing, joints become stiff and muscle wastage occurs resulting in loss of strength and often discomfort. Treatment is important to increase strength, reduce stiffness and help you return quickly and safely to work and sport.

Arthritis

A degenerative joint disease common in the over 50s but also seen in younger patients. Common areas of the body affected include the neck, lower back, hips, knees and wrists. Treatment can help to manage the condition and can also assist those who have had surgery such as knee and hip replacements.

Bursitis

Inflammation of the bursa, a fluid filled sac between the bone and muscle/tendon of a joint. Common areas affected are around the knee (Housemaids knee/Bakers cyst), hip (trochanteric bursitis) and shoulder (sub-acromial bursitis).

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Head and Neck

Neck Pain

A common problem often related to the work environment such as developing bad posture sitting for long periods in front of a computer or after a road traffic accident (whiplash). Pain is often felt below the skull and on top of the shoulder and sometimes patients can suffer pins and needles/numbness in their arms and hands. Treatment aims to improve posture and restore normal mobility and strength.

Headache

The most common type of headache is the tension headache, often related to stress. Patients complain of a dull, aching band of pain and muscle stiffness. This can be helped by treatment and the identification of stresses contributing to symptoms.

Other types: migraine and cluster headaches.

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Shoulder

Impingement

Inflamation of tendons/bursa restricts the space under the bony prominence of the shoulder (the acromion) causing pain, especially when lifting the arm above shoulder height. Common in tennis, throwing sports, weightlifting and building trades.

Rotator Cuff Tear

A tear of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor or subscapularis. A common shoulder injury often caused by trauma, overuse or degeneration. Symptoms can include pain on shoulder movements, pain when lying on the affected side and difficulty with daily activities e.g. lifting, dressing/undressing.

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

Connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and stiff and adhesions form restricting movement and causing pain. Cause is unclear.

Stage 1: freezing
Acute, constant shoulder pain which restricts movement. Gradual onset, often over many weeks/months. Pain lying on the affected side which disturbs sleep.

Stage 2: frozen/stiff
Decreased pain but increased stiffness and loss of movement. A dull ache is often experienced at this stage. Limited movement affects many daily activities.

Stage 3: thawing
Gradual regaining of shoulder movement with activities becoming easier.

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Elbow

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Common condition caused by repetitive gripping activities and not just from playing tennis! Patients may complain of pain and weakness along the muscles of the forearm and often pinpoint tenderness around the outside of the bony areas of the elbow.
Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis): Common condition caused by repetitive gripping activities and not just from playing golf! Patients may complain of pain and weakness along the muscles of the forearm and often pinpoint tenderness around the inside of the bony areas of the elbow.

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Forearm

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI): RSIs of the forearm and wrist tendons are often caused by repeated overuse activities such as typing, writing and gripping. They result in the swelling of the tendons and pain.

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Wrist

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A common nerve complaint often affecting middle-aged females but also seen in men. Most common cause is inflammation of the wrist tendons from repetitive activities such as typing and gripping. Symptoms can include numbness, tingling or burning in the thumb, index and middle finger or the whole hand. This can sometimes be alleviated by shaking the hand up and down.

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Back

Back Pain: Most of us at some time in our lives will suffer from low back pain. Many diagnoses are given for low back pain and range from slipped/prolapsed discs, degenerative arthritis, spondylosis, muscle strain, sacroiliac dysfunction and - one of the most common - sciatica. Assessment and treatment of spinal posture and muscle and strength imbalances will be carried out.
Sciatica: A set of symptoms resulting from compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms can include pain in the lower back, buttocks and sometimes the leg and foot, pins and needles or numbness in the leg. There are many different causes and potential areas of the origin of pain.

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Hip

Arthritis: A degenerative joint disease, common in the over 50s but also seen in younger patients. Symptoms can include pain in the hip and/or groin, pain on squatting or standing, limited hip movement and wastage of muscles such as the gluteals (buttocks).
Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa, a fluid filled sac between the bone and muscle/tendon of a joint. Bursitis of the hip can send pain down the outside of the thigh and is often aggravated by lying on the affected side and going up the stairs. Patients often describe the pain as deep and aching.

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Knee

Arthritis: A degenerative joint disease which can be as a result of erosion of the cartilage lining the shin bone (tibia), thigh bone (femur) and knee cap (patella). Symptoms can include pain, swelling, stiffness and limitations to activities such as walking. Therapy can help alleviate symptoms and we can provide advice on managing the condition.
Runners Knee (Patellofemoral pain): Pain at the front of or underneath the knee cap. Often an aching pain, aggravated by activities like climbing the stairs, lunging and squatting. Some patients notice 'grinding' or 'creaking' in the knee. It is important to assess alignment, strength, stability and muscle balance.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Pain and tenderness below the knee, common in late childhood or early adolescence. Often caused by excessive physical activity or growth spurts. Common in football, tennis and gymnastics. Excessive contraction of the thigh muscles (quadriceps) can result in pain, inflammation and sometimes bony changes. It may result in absence from sport.
Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome: A common and painful condition which causes pain on the outside of the knee. Patients commonly complain of pain when running down hill or climbing stairs. Assessment and treatment of alignment, flexibility and strength imbalances and advice on running technique can be provided.

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Lower Leg

Shin Splints: Pain along the shin bone (tibia). Often a result of high impact activities such as running on hard surfaces, poor training shoes, excessive training, muscle imbalances and alignment problems. Further activities can increase symptoms and severity of the condition.

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Ankle

Achilles Tendinopathy: Overuse injury affecting the achilles tendon. Common in athletes, particularly runners. Symptoms can include pain (usually above the back of the ankle or in the heel), thickening of the tendon and redness around the tendon.
Ankle Ligament Sprain: The most common ankle injury is the lateral ligament sprain although the medial ligaments are often injured. Patients often say 'I went over on it' and swelling, pain and limited movements are the most common features. Treatment to help decrease pain and restore movement, strength and balance are important for a safe return to work and sport.

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Heel and Foot

Plantar Fasciitis: A common condition which causes pain in the heel. Pain is worse when rising in the morning with stiffness a common feature. Often painful when climbing stairs and raising onto the toes. Assessment of biomechanics is an important aspect.

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Team Buckley

What we treat

Full treatment list

Index:

General treatments

Head and Neck

Shoulder

Elbow

Forearm

Wrist

Back

Hip

Knee

Lower Leg

Ankle

Heel and Foot