https://youtube.com/channel/UCM1JiDUHCCHbBsZGZ2EMPwQ

Physio Diaries GH, Apimanim No. 2, School Junction Agona Nkwanta, Takoradi (2025)

10/10/2024

✅How Do I Have Sciatica Even Though My Lower Back Has The Root Cause?

Reflecting on this topic, I recall a significant moment with a patient a while back.

She was unsure about her symptoms of numbness, tingling, and pain in her legs, not realizing that the source was her lower back.

I took the time to explain the meaning of her symptoms and how they relate to low back pain.

I believe others might also find themselves confused about this connection, so today’s post aims to provide clarity

💧What is low back pain?

📌 Low back pain is discomfort localized in the lumbar region of the spine, which includes five vertebrae (L1-L5) between the thoracic spine and the sacrum.

💧What is Sciatica?

📌 Sciatica is a condition characterized by pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and down each leg. It typically occurs when the nerve is compressed or irritated.

🗣Is sciatica a condition on it own?

💧Sciatica is not a condition on its own but rather a symptom of an underlying issue affecting the sciatic nerve. This underlying could one which is causing low back pain.

💧How Does Sciatica occurs with Low Back pain?

📌 Sciatica often occurs with low back pain when there is compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve in the lumbar spine. For example, in the case of a herniated disc in the lower back, the soft inner portion of a spinal disc bulges or ruptures, pressing against nearby nerves, including the sciatic nerve. This can cause pain to radiate from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down the leg, which is the hallmark of sciatica.

A typical scenario might involve someone lifting a heavy object improperly, resulting in sudden low back pain from a disc injury. Over time, if the disc presses on the sciatic nerve, the person may experience shooting pain down one leg, along with numbness, tingling, or weakness. This combination of localized low back pain and radiating leg pain is common in cases where sciatica coexists with low back pain.

✅This is the main reason why one can have low back pain and still have sciatica

If you find this helpful, kindly like, and respost 🔁

This is your Physique Series Champion Reporting 💃🏿

01/10/2024

💢Lifts & Transfers in Stroke Rehabilitation💢

In stroke rehabilitation, it is crucial for therapists to teach proper lifting and transfer techniques.
These skills are particularly important for the patient’s relatives, who often spend the most time with the patient. Without proper training, relatives may use poor lifting methods, potentially worsening the patient’s condition by causing complications, such as subluxation.

Subluxation occurs when the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) on the weaker side of the body partially dislocates from the shoulder socket, causing the limb to hang lower. This happens because the muscles that stabilize the shoulder are weakened by the stroke, allowing gravity to pull the limb downward. Incorrect handling of the arm can add to this force and increase the risk of injury.

Teaching proper lifting and transfer techniques is beneficial not only for the patient’s relatives but also for nurses. Many nurses are hesitant to move stroke patients, fearing they may cause harm. As a result, patients may be left in one position for too long, waiting for a therapist to assist them. With proper training, nurses can confidently help move patients and extend their care beyond medication administration, monitoring vital signs, and other medical responsibilities.

This training is also essential for preventing pressure sores, as nurses and relatives will be able to reposition patients more frequently, such as transferring them to a wheelchair after prolonged lying down.

Physiotherapists must play a key role in teaching lifts and transfers as part of comprehensive stroke rehabilitation.

The attached images provide fair idea of the proper way to lift and transfer stroke patients from bed to wheelchair and vice versa.

What other technique do you also consider helpful? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

If you consider this post helpful, kindly repost ♻️ to your network.

27/09/2024

Do I still have active followers here? Kindly comment Yes

23/09/2024

📌Deep Tendon Reflex: what you must know📌

When I made this post on my page somewhere in 2021, I had impressive reach. Having been on LinkedIn equally requires my attention to post it too.

Let’s look at Deep Tendon reflexes and finally elaborate on its essence in the settings

✍️ Biceps Reflex (C5-C6)
✍️Triceps Reflex (C6-C7)
✍️Brachioradialis Reflex (C5-C6)
✍️Patellar Reflex (L2-L4)
✍️Achilles Reflex (S1-S2)

🩸Biceps Reflex: Tapping the biceps tendon causes flexion at the elbow.
🩸Triceps Reflex: Tapping the triceps tendon causes extension of the elbow.
🩸Brachioradialis Reflex: Tapping the brachioradialis tendon causes flexion and supination of the forearm.
🩸Patellar Reflex: Tapping the patellar tendon causes extension of the knee.
🩸Achilles Reflex : Tapping the Achilles tendon causes plantarflexion of the foot.

💡Essence:
Deep Tendon Reflex Testing assesses the nervous system by evaluating muscle reflexes through tendon taps. It helps detect nerve damage, spinal cord issues, and neurological disorders. Reflex testing aids in early diagnosis, locates lesions, monitors disease progression, and assesses muscle tone. It is a simple, non-invasive tool for evaluating nervous system function in clinical practice.

💃🏿💃🏿If this post is helpful, kindly like, respost, and leave a comment. Follow me for more physiotherapy related information.

I highly recommend my new Linkedin group for physiotherapy and healthcare professionals.

Join here👉 https://lnkd.in/etm4i-zP

💚 Seeing my post for the first time, I am Thomas Bio, physiotherapy advocate and a content writer. I speak wholly about physiotherapy my profession, and write thrillling stories to inspire. Join my network as we learn and take inspiration from each other for our common good.

21/09/2024

💢Key Differences Between Erb’s and Klumpke’s Palsy

💡Erb’s palsy affects the upper arm and shoulder, leading to problems with arm movement, while Klumpke’s palsy primarily affects the hand and wrist, leading to hand weakness or paralysis.

💡Erb’s palsy presents with a "waiter’s tip" posture, while Klumpke’s palsy results in a "claw hand" deformity.

Affected Muscles 💪

✍️Erb’s palsy:

Affected Muscles:
-Deltoid (shoulder abduction)
-Supraspinatus (shoulder abduction)
-Infraspinatus (external rotation of the shoulder)
-Teres minor (external rotation)
-Biceps brachii (elbow flexion, forearm supination)
-Brachialis (elbow flexion)
-Brachioradialis (forearm flexion)
-Supinator (forearm supination)

✍️Klumpke’s palsy:

•Intrinsic hand muscles (interossei, lumbricals), leading to weakness or paralysis of fine motor movements in the hand.

•Flexor digitorum profundus (medial half), affecting flexion of the fingers.

•Flexor carpi ulnaris, affecting wrist flexion.

•Thenar and hypothenar muscles, leading to issues with thumb and pinky movements.

💚 Seeing my post for the first time, I am Thomas Bio, physiotherapy advocate and a content writer. I speak wholly about physiotherapy my profession, and write thrillling stories to inspire. Join my network as we learn and take inspiration from each other for our common good.

20/09/2024

Hello cherished followers! We are back to full functionality.
Watch this space 💚

20/09/2024

💡TRIGGER POINT AND SITE OF REFERRED PAIN

⭕️Tigger Point:

Trigger points are areas in the body where

pain is actually produced or occurs.

It normally a site of pain to Palpation.

⭕️Refered Pain:
Referred pain is any pain that is actually perceived from areas in the body different from specific site of the pain or the source of the pain. In simple terms, pain felt in specific areas of the body produced from other parts of the body.

💡Usually, trigger points produce

referred pain to other areas of the body.

Find attached, images of trigger points in the body and specific area of referred pain.

To get more of these physiotherapy related topics and interesting health topics, kindly follow me, Thomas Bio as well as my new community, Physio Room via the link 👇

Link: https://lnkd.in/etm4i-zP

17/09/2024

5 EXERCISES TO CONSIDER FOR LOW BACK PAIN
……..

The saying I should rest and stay in bed to help my back recovery when I have back pain, is nothing but a mere misconception.

The fact is that, immediately following the injury, or whatever that triggered your back pain, avoiding aggravating activities is the only thing to consider. Light exercise and gradual return to usual activities is important for your recovery.

Exercise is emphasized to be helpful approach though, it’s important to resort to specific exercises that have peculiar impact based on the therapist’s impression.

Several exercises exist online proposed to improve low back pain, but in what specific defined ways do they help.

This article proposes 5 major exercises best for low back and throw a spotlight on reasons why they may be of help. However, we will just be introduced to three of them and reserve the rest for another post due to character limit restrictions

1️⃣ BRIDGING
The bridging exercise is simple but effective in strengthening key muscle groups that support the lower back and improving mobility in the hips. It is often used in rehabilitation programs for back pain because it is low-impact and safe for people recovering from back injuries or dealing with chronic back pain.

2️⃣ KNEES/KNEE TO CHEST
The knee-to-chest exercise is simple, safe, and effective for improving flexibility, relieving tension in the lower back, and reducing pain. It’s often included in rehabilitation programs for low back pain because it targets key areas (such as the lumbar spine and hips) that commonly contribute to discomfort in the lower back.

3️⃣QUADRUPED ARM/LEG RAISE
The quadruped arm/leg raise (bird-dog) is highly effective in strengthening the muscles that stabilize the spine, improving core stability, and promoting better posture, all of which help reduce and prevent lower back pain. It’s commonly recommended in rehabilitation programs for people with back pain because it’s low-impact and can be performed safely without placing undue stress on the spine.
……….

In conclusion, kindly note that, there is not one specific form of exercise that is considered to be helpful. Your therapist will be able to assess your situation and prescribe the exercises tailored to your needs. It’s imperative to consult your doctor or physical therapist if something falls beyond your understanding.

🟢 Seeing my post for the first time, I am Thomas Bio, Physiotherapy advocate and a content writer. I speak wholly about physiotherapy my profession, and write thrillling stories to inspire. Join my network as we learn and take inspiration from each other for our common good.

14/08/2024

CEREBRAL PALSY - SPASTIC TYPE

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of CP, representing at least 70% of diagnoses.

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders primarily affecting muscle coordination, balance and voluntary movement.The neurological condition typically appears in infancy or early childhood, resulting from irregular development or damage to the part of the brain responsible for mobility. Although a formal diagnosis may be delayed by months or years, most cerebral palsy patients are born with the disorder.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy Overview:
Spastic cerebral palsy occurs when a damaged part of the brain sends the wrong neurological messages, impeding normal development of motor functions. Specifically, the disorder can be partially attributed to damaged brain and spinal cord neuron bundles in the pyramidal tracts, where the corticobulbar and corticospinal tracts are involved with motor control.

Muscle stiffness and tightness are primary symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy, resulting in jerky movements and exaggerated reflexes. Other symptoms are highly individualized, impacting each patient in unique ways. For example, it is thought approximately one-third of individuals affected by the disease experience seizures.

Among children afflicted with the spastic type of CP, muscle tightness and poor coordination during deliberate movements are consistent, dominant symptoms; compared to ataxic and athetoid cerebral palsy, which may display a slightly different set of principal indications.The spasticity associated with CP can affect any muscle group, but certain patterns are seen across those with the disorder.

As is the case with other forms of CP, those with the spastic type are susceptible to co-occurring conditions, which can impact vision, hearing, swallowing, as well as bladder and bowel functions and other physical systems. Difficulty reasoning and slow development are also seen in some babies and young people diagnosed with CP. Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy commonly experience involuntary and unpredictable movements, and individuals with severe cases may not be able to walk.

Types of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

SPASTIC QUADRIPLEGIA

Spastic quadriplegia is a specific type of spastic cerebral palsy that refers to difficulty in controlling movements in the arms and the legs. Those who experience this form of Cerebral Palsy will not have paralysis of the muscles, but rather jerking motions that come from stiffness within all four limbs. Just like general CP, children will display symptoms early on in life, and the movements will hinder normal development. The National Institute of Health states that there are generally four causes to spastic quadriplegia: damage to a certain part of the nervous system, general brain damage, bleeding in the brain or a lack of oxygen to the brain.

Spastic quadriplegia will normally affect the whole body, even though the name refers to the four limbs on the body. The facial muscles and the core of the body are unable to perform their normal functions due to the intense amount of muscle tightness and strain.

Typically you’ll see symptoms anywhere from three months to two years old. Infants may be unable to control their head or make scissor-like motions with their legs, where their legs come together then cross at the knee. They will be unable to stand or crawl by 12 months, and they’ll have trouble stretching or moving. Their muscles may contract and relax quickly, or there may be general tautness in the muscles that leads to structural damage in the core of the body. It can make it difficult to sit up or control bladder or bowel function.

SPASTIC DIPLEGIA

This form of Cerebral Palsy affects the lower portion of the body. Known as diplegia, this will affect two of the limbs (the legs) rather than the whole body. About one in five children with CP have spastic diplegia, which is also known as Little’s Disease, named after the doctor who first wrote about this form of Cerebral Palsy. It is less severe in nature than spastic quadriplegia.

Children with this form will show signs and symptoms within the first few years, and will display many of the same sc******ng or contracting symptoms that a child with quadriplegia will exhibit. According to the studies published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, children with spastic diplegia may see many of the other developmental conditions as those with quadriplegia, including vision problems.

SPASTIC HEMIPLEGIA

Typically, the upper extremity is much more affected than the lower extremity with this form of Spastic Cerebral Palsy. This form impairs the ability of the brain to send proper nerve signals to the patients muscles. Spastic hemiplegia is a rather common form of Cerebral Palsy.

This very article is an eye opener to you who read this article. Drop all bad perceptions you hold about infants, or children having cerebral palsy. They are not in anyway possessed as many claim they are. The main problem is neurological,which has clinically explainable etiological background. Your child has a possibility of gaining control over his balance, and mobility through the intervention of a physical therapist.

30/06/2024

Flat back posture

The condition can be very disabling when left untreated. In flat back, the normal lordotic curve within the lumbar region is lost and the spine now looks straight, making the lower back looks more flat.

This changes causes many postural distortions to the individual and the new features the body changes into can causes many innumerable symptoms to the victim which will need therapy.

Patients with flatback syndrome often may not know they have this condition because their spine has been changing gradually over time. When a patient has flatback syndrome they have lost the normal amount of lordosis, or inward curve, of their spine so the body adapts by tilting the pelvis, flexing the knees and hips so the patient can continue to stand upright.

Often patients present for therapy because of other associated symptoms including back or leg pain, difficulty with doing certain daily activities, or even a sensation of falling forward.

Patients may notice worsening posture over time and even sometimes have started to use a cane or walking stick to help with ambulation. Symptoms often worsen as the day progresses because the body is overcompensating leading to excess muscular fatigue. In some cases, patients with underlying flatback syndrome also have spinal stenosis which is a narrowing around the spinal canal which can cause other nerve symptoms.

The cause of flat back syndrome can either be of these reasons;
1. Congenital (present at birth)
2. Ankylosing spondylitis (a type of inflammatory arthritis of the spine)
3 Compression fractures of the vertebrae, such as due to osteoporosis
4. Degenerative disc disease

5. Flat back syndrome can occur after spine surgery, such as laminectomy. In the past, surgically implanted devices used to correct scoliosis often flattened the lumbar spine and resulted in flat back syndrome, especially with age. Updated surgical techniques have reduced this complication.

Managing the flat back syndrome mainly becomes more successful with physiotherapy. Exercises designed to help reverse the changes back to normal can be recommended by your therapist.

However, even before your therapist handles you, an X-ray of your lumbar spine will be requested to establish the presence of the condition. This can be confirmed when there is loss of the lordosis curve which naturally exist at every individual’s lower back.

When this is ruled out, then many of our protocols will be that which will help restore the normal lordotic curve, which in turns will correct all other changes to the other nearby joints and we also focus on symptom related management to set you free. These protocols will be but not limited to exercise therapy.

Remember to get screened first before receiving treatment for any spinal problem that comes your way.

18/06/2024

AMPUTATION

The term amputation, refers to removal of all or part of a body part, mostly a limb or an appendage(a body part other than the head and the trunk of the body)

It can also be defined as, a surgical removal of part or all of a limb. It may be used as an emergency option to save life, reduce pain, cut patient cost,and terminates other psychological issues.

Amputation of a body part becomes an option if all interventions from medical professionals have been futile, and leaving the part in a state most likely to cause death of the patient, or result the patient to have lots of pains, stress, and other psychological problems.

CAUSES:

A person can experience a traumatic amputation from a motor vehicle, occupational or industrial accident or combat injury.

Traumatic injury accounts for about 45% of all amputations. A body part can be cut off or torn away in a severe accident, or it can be so badly damaged from a crush injury or severe burns that it cannot be saved.

If tissue destruction, infection or disease affects a body part in a way that makes it impossible to repair or endangers the person’s life, that part may be removed by surgical amputation(Figure 13)

Trauma or disease that cuts off blood flow to a body part for an extended time can also cause tissue death requiring an amputation. An example is frostbite, which can damage the blood vessels in fingers and toes, eventually requiring their removal.

About 54% of all surgical amputations result from complications of vascular diseases and other conditions that affect blood flow, such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Chronic vascular problems can lead to tissue death in toes, feet and legs. Of patients undergoing amputation for complications of these diseases, nearly half will die within five years of the amputation procedure.

Removing a hand, foot, arm or leg to prevent the spread of certain types of cancer account for less than 2% of amputations. Cancers such as sarcomas can affect bone and soft tissue in the limbs, and if the cancer is too large or aggressive to be removed, if it is recurring, or if it extends into the nerves or blood vessels, amputation might be necessary.

Advanced cancers affecting the upper leg can result in an amputation procedure called hip disarticulation, which removes the entire femur (thigh bone) from the pelvis.

Severe sepsis is also known as septicemia or blood poisoning can also warrant amputation.

Septicemia happens when drug-resistant bacteria overwhelm the body and spread throughout the bloodstream. Sepsis can affect blood flow and cause tissue to die, especially in the toes, fingers, hands and feet. Severe sepsis can be deadly if antibiotic medicines cannot control the infection.

One cause of sepsis is meningococcal bacteria, which cause a serious form of meningitis(an inflammation of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord).

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureas (MRSA), also a bacterium, can cause a severe condition called necrotizing soft tissue infection, or fasciitis. For these and other dangerous infections occurring in a body part that the patient can survive without, an amputation might be necessary to save the person’s life.

As amputation is performed only involving any part of a limb, it has been grouped into two main types as upper and lower limb amputation as addressed below;

UPPER EXTREMITY AMPUTATION:

Partial hand amputation: removing part of the hand
Wrist disarticulation: removing the hand after separating it from the lower arm at the wrist.

Below-the-elbow amputation: removing part of the lower arm by cutting across the bones of the lower arm (radius and ulna)

Elbow disarticulation: removing the lower arm after separating it from the upper arm at the elbow.

Above-the-elbow amputation: removing the lower arm, elbow and part of the upper arm by cutting across the upper arm bone (humerus)

Shoulder disarticulation: removing the entire arm after separating it from the shoulder

Forequarter amputation: removing the arm and part of the shoulder (shoulder bones could include the clavicle and scapula

LOWER EXTREMITY AMPUTATION:

Partial foot amputation: removing part of the foot (there are many types of partial foot amputation)

Ankle disarticulation: removing the foot after separating it from the lower leg at the ankle

Below-the-knee amputation: removing the foot and part of the lower leg by cutting across the bones of the lower leg (tibia and fibula)

Knee disarticulation: removal of the lower leg by separating it from the upper leg at the knee
Above-the-knee amputation: removal of the lower leg, the knee and part of the upper leg by cutting across the upper leg bone (femur)

Hip disarticulation: removal of the entire leg by separating it from the pelvis at the hip joint

Pelvic amputation, or hemipelvectomy: removal of the entire leg and part of the pelvis.

Double amputation is removal of both hands, feet, arms or legs.

This article has not ended, there are more to come your ways on amputation in subsequent posts. Be more regular on this page for about things to know pre and post operative periods and what a physiotherapist do in those stages for all forms of amputations. Stay connected.

Physio Diaries GH

10/10/2024

01/10/2024

27/09/2024

23/09/2024

21/09/2024

20/09/2024

20/09/2024

17/09/2024

14/08/2024

30/06/2024

18/06/2024

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category