Rehab, injuries, and bone density in menopause - August in the media

August was a sport-filled month and CSP physiotherapist spokespeople were on hand to provide advice for people taking up a new exercise regime. FCP Matt Harrison was interviewed by The Guardian and warned against Olympics-inspired attempts at new and daredevil sports without building up to them first. 

Matt Harrison was also joined by fellow FCP and CSP spokesperson Sam Bhide in offering advice on six common mistakes to avoid when exercising with an injury on Joe Wickes’ platform The Body Coach. 

Health Service Journal ran an exclusive report on data showing that more than 20,000 patients each year are being left to languish in care homes and community beds after discharge from hospital without any rehab support. 

Community Rehabilitation Alliance co-chair Sara Hazzard, from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, was quoted:  

The biggest problem is that we don’t count unmet need, which means the data could be the tip of a glacier-size iceberg. 

'People don’t just need beds, they need to recover as much function, strength and independence as possible. This is why beds – whether at home, a care home or a step down from hospital – are supposed to come with rehab wrapped around. 

'Anything short of that is robbing people of their best possible quality of life. At worst, it is warehousing human beings with no regard to the harmful consequences. 

The Press Association ran an article on a drug used to treat patients at high risk of bone fractures which could benefit women who have been through menopause. Sam Bhide was interviewed regarding exercises that can improve bone density and strength. The article was published by The Independent but also picked up by more than 15 other news outlets. 

Ash James, Director of Practice and Development at the CSP, spoke to Doctors Net about a UK study that has found a ‘first contact physiotherapy’ approach to musculoskeletal problems is clinically and cost effective. 

Ash said: 

  Providing patients with musculoskeletal expertise right at the start of the patient pathway reduces oversubscribing of potential harmful medications and improves recovery times, as well as returns and keeps people in work.

Bill Taylor, an Edinburgh-based physio, and a member of the Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy group, spoke to the Daily Mail about using pelvic floor exercises to treat chronic testicular pain.