The history of physiotherapy and the use of conservative treatment measures have been predating orthopaedic surgery by several hundred years. The use of physiotherapy to treat knee injuries can be traced back to Hippokrates in ancient Greece. It took, however, over 2000 years before the power of physiotherapy was re-discovered and re-introduced alongside orthopaedic surgery to treat and rehabilitate patients. Today physiotherapy is utilised in a number of different ways to treat a wide spectrum of knee related problems. Patients are assessed, monitored and guided through the treatment process in order to safeguard an appropriate level of recovery before allowing a return to sporting activities.
In some patients the use of physiotherapeutic means allows the avoidance of surgical intervention altogether. This is of particularly evident in the treatment of patello-femoral disorders, where conservative measures are often successful in improving patients symptoms. It is important for the surgeon and physiotherapist to have a close working relationship so that both sides are well aware of the patients progress. Such feed-back also allows the surgeon to instigate immediate intervention if problems occur.
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