Osteoarthritis solved for a 70 year old clarinet musician (Mrs C)

Osteoarthritis (OA) can affect any joint and is very common as we get older. If you feel the aches when you wake or do an action too much, or when the weather changes can all be indicators of Osteoarthritis,  Commonly people are advised to accept this and it is blamed it on age, I SAY NAY you do not need to suffer with pain.

This lady has been playing the Clarinet for many years and still plays and performs with a local orchestra. When she attended she presented with a significant reduction in range of motion, about 20% in some directions. 

Our wrists have multiple bones and joints which allow for our excellent dexterity and range. 

Mrs C was really struggling to play her instrument and carry out normal activities of daily living. The pain and stiffness had been worsening for a couple of years. 

Wrist movements are measured in flexion, extension, ulnar and radial deviation and pro and supination, so multiple planes of motion.

She had been given exercises from the NHS, but they had not increased her range of motion or addressed any of her pain.

SUCCESS

I began a programme of carpal mobilisations. This involves holding each individual joint and shearing it in a perpendicular direction to the normal physiological movements made by the joints. Traction is also added and the patient was taught how to traction her own hand and wrist at home. 

After a few weeks she has improved so well she now once again has full range of motion and she is pain free, even when she uses the wrist for gardening and playing her Clarinet.

This technique (and others) can be utilised on all joints which are affected by osteoarthritis.

So don’t accept pain killers and a stiff or painful joint… come along for treatment and live a fully functional, pain free life with the aid of our expert physiotherapy.

Full range of motion after treatment.

Examples of OA in other joints which I have treated and reduced or cleared the pain have included:

Thumb and finger OA, a common presentation which can be severely affecting your life as range is reduced and pain increases. An excellent treatment which often clears the pain is the compression technique, this stimulates the degenerative joint surface and promotes healing of the affected area and reduces pain in the joint, even when severe OA is present. Fingers and toes are very responsive to this. 

Gapping techniques are very effective on large joints like the knee and shoulder, this can be a mix of mobilisation and high grade manipulation, it improves the circulation in and around the joint and can lead to an increase in the range of motion. The manipulation also produces an analgesic effect and allows improved function. 

I recently treated an 80 year old who had severe degenerative changes in the knees and especially in the patella (knee caps) femoral joints, I treated him with both compression technique on the patellae and manipulation of the knee joint and he has significantly improved his walking from being almost bed-bound to freely walking about his flat and going out for up to a mile . 

Spinal OA causes multiple signs and symptoms, it is very common as we get older and can affect from one joint to a whole spine. Treatment depends on the presentation of the level which is affected and the type of pain and degeneration. Spinal manipulation and mobilisation is very useful in treating and freeing up the spine and the nerves which are affected. 

Call us to solve your pain. 01962 714979