Scoliosis is a condition in which a person’s spine is curved from side to side and appears as an “S” or a “C” shape on an x-ray film when viewed from front or back. The condition may be idiopathic (meaning the cause is unknown) or it may be congenital (the result of vertebral malalignment at

We are familiar with the expression “my foot has fallen asleep”. This sensation is caused by a change in the functioning of a sensory nerve and is known in medical circles as paraesthesia. It can occur in any part of the body but is most common in the fingers and feet. In the former, it

Foot injuries are common among athletes during their career and can cause a lot of pain, discomfort and in some cases can sideline them for some time. Overuse, overtraining, weak muscles and tendons, trauma, poor technique and incorrect footwear can all lead to foot injuries. In this article, we will look at some of the

Joint injuries are among the most common problems experienced by physiotherapy patients. These injuries may result from trauma such as injury or wear and tear to the joint as in the case of arthritis. Patients may also seek physiotherapy following surgical procedures. Hip, knee, elbow, shoulder, wrist, hand, ankle and spinal surgery are all common.

Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects the body’s ability to transport and utilise glucose. This means that digested carbohydrates remain in the blood instead of getting into the cells of the body where they are needed to provide energy. The result is low energy levels, muscle weakness, excess weight and other complications such as

A lot is being said lately about the core muscles and their role in improving athletic performance and preventing certain types of injury. However, there is some confusion about what muscles make up the “core”. The core muscles have been described as the corset of muscles that wrap around the abdomen and back. They are

Neurological problems stem from a wide range of conditions relating to defects in the function of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Neurological problems may manifest themselves in difficulty in walking, abnormal muscle tone, poor coordination, decreased sensation, perceptual problems, muscle weakness and a host of other symptoms, depending on the nature and scope of

Many people come to see us after they have suffered an injury, and we are happy to help them, but many of these injuries could have been prevented if they had come before they had the injury. A great part of the physiotherapy treatment protocol has to do with injury prevention. Depending on your lifestyle,

Cardiovascular disease is a broad name for a number of conditions affecting the function of the heart and blood vessels. In recent years these conditions have been on the increase, however, people are living longer with the disease due to improved medical care, which includes physiotherapy. Nowadays, early rehabilitation of the cardiac patient is standard

Many patients are ashamed to bring up this topic and therefore suffer needlessly and in silence. However many sufferers can be significantly helped, by the non-surgical approach physiotherapists have to offer. Urinary incontinence is more common than bowel incontinence and can be experienced by women after childbirth or during and after menopause or by men