Musculoskeletal complaints are among the most common issues in the healthcare system
– November 11, 2024 | Sponsored Content
Everyone is familiar with the pattern: as the cooler and more humid season approaches, common problems such as lower back pain, rib blockages, and arthritis symptoms resurface more frequently. Even mild complaints can become persistent nuisances, especially in leisure activities which involve physical movement.
In my work as an orthopaedic surgeon, with additional training in osteopathy, I distinguish between two types of complaints:
Structural complaints arise from wear and tear in the major joints and spine or from acute injuries, such as a meniscus tear in the knee or a rotator cuff tear in the shoulder.
Functional complaints, on the other hand, result from improper load distribution or imbalances caused by unilateral strain or overuse. This can lead to joint blockages in the spine or ribs or tendon irritation, as seen in conditions such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow.
Therefore, prompt and efficient diagnosis and the initiation of appropriate therapy are crucial. Close collaboration between general medicine and my work at LuzDoc/MediLagos significantly contributes to identifying the root causes of complaints without delays, ensuring the best outcome for patients.
Individualised medicine, in my case, means carefully considering various treatment options through a detailed and focused patient interview and existing information regarding ongoing care from primary care and other medical colleagues. Our well-trained physiotherapists develop tailored-made exercise plans, alongside manual therapy. For example, joint or tissue-specific and ultra-sound guided injections can work more effectively in conjunction with focused exercises designed for each condition.
It is particularly important to not only recognise the more obvious structural complaints but also the functional ones. My extensive training in orthopaedics, osteopathy, chiropractics, ultrasound diagnostics, and sports medicine, along with years of experience in competitive sports as both an athlete and coach, allows me to analyse the interconnections between dysfunctions in different areas of the musculoskeletal system. Identifying the origins of these issues in a patient’s daily life is the goal of the tailor-made medicine approach at Luzdoc/Medilagos.
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