Orthopaedics is the branch of medicine concerned with the correction or prevention of deformities, disorders, or injuries of the skeleton and associated structures, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This may be prior to or following surgery or injury. It can involve “pre-hab” which is rehabilitation prior to surgery to improve the outcome, and “rehab”, which occurs following the surgery or injury. It may involve hands-on treatment, exercises in the pool or gym and home exercises. Assessment is vital to ensure that treatment is both safe and effective. Physiotherapists are very much involved in both the prehab and rehab of orthopaedic conditions. Advice should be sought even if healing appears to be occurring naturally. This will avoid issues in the long term that may not be completely resolved.
