As physiotherapists, we treat a number of musculoskeletal conditions – a broad term that encompasses damage to bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. Because these conditions are so wide ranging, they affect from children (as in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) to the elderly (as in osteoarthritis) and everyone else who may suffer an injury. Other conditions which fall under this heading include carpal tunnel syndrome, muscular dystrophy, fibromyalgia and osteomyelitis (bone infection), to name a few. Many patients recover their strength and ability to function again through physiotherapy treatment.
The overriding symptom of all these conditions is pain. In the case of an injury that affects the bone, or in osteomyelitis, this type of pain is more severe than muscle pain. Tendon and ligament pain, as occurs in tendonitis, is less severe than bone pain. Some conditions may cause pain by compressing a nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive strain injury that compresses the median nerve, causing pain and a burning sensation along the course of the nerve. In fibromyalgia, the pain is widespread and the locations difficult to pinpoint.
As your physiotherapist in the treatment of all musculoskeletal conditions, we not only treat pain, but also deal with the accompanying muscle weakness, loss of stability and decrease in functional use of the body part.