Rheumatology physiotherapists provide assessment, treatment, and self-management advice for all rheumatology conditions in an outpatient setting. This applies to all stages of these inflammatory conditions, from the newly diagnosed, to patients with long-standing problems.
What is rheumatology physiotherapy?
Rheumatology physiotherapy is a specialist area of physiotherapy dedicated to treating a variety of rheumatological conditions. These are autoimmune diseases which cause inflammation in muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons and can cause many symptoms including pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Common rheumatology conditions that are treated include rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthropathy (ankylosing spondylitis), psoriatic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The rheumatology physiotherapists aim to increase patients’ knowledge of their condition and provide self-management advice and exercises that are specific to their problems.
The rheumatology physiotherapy team works closely with medical staff, specialist nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and podiatrists to provide a high-quality multidisciplinary approach to patient care. They also provide assessment, advice and injection therapy at rheumatology consultant lead outpatient clinics.
What can physiotherapy offer you?
Physiotherapists in rheumatology will carry out detailed patient assessments to:
- Identify how a patient’s condition affects them physically and to what degree an individual’s function is affected i.e., their mobility, posture, ability to work
- Discuss lifestyle changes that patients could add or omit from their life to maximise the management of the condition, i.e., increasing physical activity, smoking cessation
- Assess for any special equipment requirements such as walking aids
- Optimise the patient’s current self-management and coping strategies
- Determine the need for physiotherapeutic interventions
Physiotherapists can help by teaching and encouraging stretching and strengthening exercises; to increase movement and strength, allowing better function.
Where to find us
The rheumatology physiotherapy service is provided in:
- McCaughey House (first floor), Whiteabbey Hospital, Doagh Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 9RH
- Fern House, Antrim Area Hospital. Bush Road, Antrim, BT41 2RL
- Fort Centre, Mount Fern, 8 Rugby Avenue, Coleraine, BT52 1JL
How to access the service
Self-referral
If you are over the page of 16, you can refer yourself to physiotherapy services. You can self-refer either by:
- Completing the online Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy Self Referral form.
- Booking through the My Care app (MyChart). Click on the blue filing cabinet icon in the top left corner of the home page, choose self-referral under the ‘Find Care’ heading and it will take you to the MSK physiotherapy self-referral form.
You may also receive a referral by attending a rheumatology appointment (any member of the rheumatology team can refer you to the rheumatology physiotherapist) or by speaking to your GP.
Useful resources
Exercises
For more useful advice and exercises for common musculoskeletal problems, including low back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, hip osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis:
Websites
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
National Axial Spondyloarthropathy Society
Arthritis UK – Lets move with Leon
Age UK – Staying steady downloadable information guide
NHS – Balance exercises
NHS – Flexibility exercises
NHS – Sitting exercises
NHS – Strengthening exercises