Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Musculoskeletal rehabilitation programs may help to improve functional capacity, reduce symptoms, and improve the well-being of the patient.

Some of the conditions that may benefit from musculoskeletal rehabilitation may include

Tendon tears (E.g. Rotator Cuff tears)
Trauma injuries, such as sprains, strains, joint dislocations, and fractures
Back pain
Spinal Pain
Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Bone tumors
Repetitive stress injuries, such as tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome
Joint injury and replacement
Amputation
Sports Injuries
Shoulder pain
Knee pain

The musculoskeletal rehabilitation team

Many skilled professionals are part of the musculoskeletal rehabilitation team, including any or all of the following:

Rehabilitation Consultants
Pain and Musculoskeletal Medicine Consultants
Physical therapist
Occupational therapist
Psychologist/psychiatrist
Orthotist
Sports Therapist

The musculoskeletal rehabilitation program

A musculoskeletal rehabilitation program is designed to meet the needs of the individual patient, depending on the specific problem or disease. Active involvement of the patient and family is vital to the success of the program.

The goal of musculoskeletal rehabilitation is to help the patient return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving the overall quality of life — physically, emotionally, and socially.

In order to help reach these goals, musculoskeletal rehabilitation programs may include the following:

Fitting and care for casts, braces, and splints (orthoses), or artificial limbs (prostheses)
Exercise programs to improve range of motion, increase muscle strength, improve flexibility and mobility, and increase endurance
Ambulation retraining and methods of safe ambulation (including the use of a walker, cane, or crutch)
Help with obtaining assistive devices that promote independence
Patient education and counseling
Pain management
Stress management and emotional support
Nutritional counseling
Ergonomic assessments and work-related injury prevention

First Contact Practitioners

Cloud Medical have extended scope practitioners to provide first contact practitioner services within your GP Practice.

What is a First Contact Practitioner service?

A First Contact Practitioner is usually an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist who has the advanced skills necessary to assess, diagnose and manage musculoskeletal problems. A First Contact Practitioner service enables patients who would usually present to the GP in primary care with an MSK issue to either refer themselves directly into existing physiotherapy services or see a First Contact Practitioner who is based in general practice.

Why implement a First Contact Practitioner service?

Patients presenting with MSK make up to 30% of primary care consultations and 10% of all GP referrals. Enabling people to self-refer to first contact MS practitioner services can speed up access to treatment, reduce GP workload and associated costs, reduce prescription costs, increase self-management and reduce inappropriate referrals to secondary care. Self-referral into physiotherapy can cut costs by £33 per patient.

First contact physios in general practice: FAQs

Transforming musculoskeletal and orthopaedic elective care services