Physiotherapy

We have the ability at Clarence Joint Therapy to assist you with the management of arthritis. Our treatment includes land physiotherapy treatment and exercise, aquatic physiotherapy treatment or a combination. Our aquatic physiotherapy treatments occur in our onsite hydrotherapy pool.

After an assessment, the physiotherapist will listen to your problems and your needs and discuss some options for treatment. Treatment could be a combination of manual therapy, exercises in our gym and at home and the opportunity to use the hydrotherapy pool. If suitable and of benefit, a pool exercise plan can be devised for you to continue with independently. You don’t need to put your head underwater or be able to swim for hydrotherapy treatment.

Hydrotherapy has amazing benefits for people with Osteoarthritis and Rheumatic conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Polymyalgia, Fibromyalgia, Ankylosing spondylitis and other autoimmune conditions found in both young and older people. The beneficial effects of the reduction of weight through joints by buoyancy – which also can be used to add resistance to strengthen muscles, the soothing heat of warm water (34-36 degrees Celsius) and the compression of the water on the skin so reducing swelling all contribute to relieving pain and enabling movement and function, not just while in the water, but the benefits literally spill over into the activities you may be struggling with in normal life.

Benefits Include:

• Better function such as sit to stand, steps, walking and improved shoulder and hand function
• Management of single or multiple problems in the one session
• Improved muscle strength and range of movement in joints
• Decreased overall stiffness
• Improved sense of wellbeing with better mood, sleep, and overall coping skills
• Weight control
• Improvement in fitness without being as short of breath, as standing in the water allows for better oxygen absorption by the lungs
• Medications may be reduced if pain management is better on discussion with your doctors.
• Water exercise has both Pre and Post-operative benefits for joints too, and in some cases may reduce or even stop the need for an operation.

Aquatic Physiotherapy is physiotherapy in water and the individual programme is devised after a land assessment. This could be physiotherapy treatment from within, or instruction from the pool side depending upon the individual’s needs. It is important you let us know before entering the pool if you may be adversely affected by any medical conditions.