Dr. Caitriona Cunningham
Physiotherapists can work with patients to decide on the most appropriate management for acute and long-term bone / joint pain. Similarly, they or help people who simply want advice about getting active.
GP’s may refer patients with body movement and function issues. Body threats can include age, injury, disease, joint and muscle conditions. This can be a misunderstood profession. As a result, some patients believing that physiotherapists simply offer manual therapy. Or manipulation of affected areas and they may: yet physiotherapy is a much broader healthcare specialty than that.
“A physiotherapist takes a holistic view,” says Dr. Caitriona Cunningham of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, the professional body representing over 3,000 Chartered Physiotherapists in Ireland. “Their role is to assess the individual, diagnosis and work together on deciding the most appropriate management for them. They may ask: is exercise the most appropriate approach in this particular case, at this point in time? Will this patient benefit from manual therapy or a joint injection? Does this person need further investigations, and/or medications? They’ll be able to offer treatment and advice for acute bone and joint pain based on current best evidence. Similarly, they can provide guidance on long-term bone and joint pain management – usually involving exercise. They also have knowledge of the appropriate referral pathways in the health system”
Self-management
Some people presenting to a physiotherapist with joint aches and pains may be diagnosed with arthritis or degenerative changes of their joints, says Cunningham. But if arthritis is diagnosed, a physiotherapist can help the patient self-manage the condition, even if it becomes chronic. “Some people need to see a professional to be empowered to manage their chronic conditions,” she says. “Physiotherapy can help do that, and so maximise function and quality of life.”
Yet physiotherapists don’t only offer treatment to those with acute or chronic pain. “They can also advise people who are feeling well to get active,” says Cunningham. “Increasing numbers of physiotherapists are focussing on health promotion and primary prevention. For example, if you want to take up exercise but are concerned about keeping your joints healthy, a physiotherapist can assess you and advise which exercises to do and which ones to avoid.”
Keeping active
In terms of bone health and osteoporosis, one role of the physiotherapist is to encourage young people to be active so that they can build bone strength and to advise people to engage in impact and strengthening exercise throughout their lives to maintain bone strength and muscle health. “Some people avoid exercise, either on the basis that it might be bad for their joints, or that they have osteoporosis,” actually, we all experience muscle loss as we age and joint aches and pains are common but it can create more problems if you don’t stay active. Yet you may need guidance from a physiotherapist to get you started.”
If you have any concerns about bone or joint aches or pains, you can contact a private physiotherapy practitioner directly. However, the advice is to always see your GP first. And when you choose a physiotherapist, make sure that they are a Chartered practitioner. As state registration of physiotherapists is on the way , this will provide greater transparency for members of the the public, enabling them to make more informed choices.