OrthopaedicTopic
Orthopaedic rehabilitation: articles and guides
Joints, bone, spine and recovery after surgery, from disc herniation to joint replacement.
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Orthopaedic
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Orthopaedic How long does sciatica last?
Sciatica often improves substantially within a few weeks to a few months, especially when it is caused by a disc pressing on a nerve root, because the disc material frequently shrinks with time. Some people have symptoms for longer or recurrences. Staying active, exercise and targeted pain relief help, while sudden weakness or bladder changes need urgent care.Read moreOrthopaedic Can a herniated disc heal without surgery?
Yes, many herniated discs improve without surgery. The disc material that presses on a nerve often shrinks or is reabsorbed over weeks to months, and larger extrusions are more likely to regress than small bulges. Most people are treated with activity, exercise and pain relief, and surgery is reserved for specific situations.Read moreOrthopaedic Which exercises help lower back pain, and which make it worse?
Exercise helps chronic lower back pain, and no single type is clearly better than others. Walking, strengthening, Pilates, yoga and tai chi all have evidence. What matters is choosing activities you can keep doing and building up gradually. Prolonged rest, avoiding all movement and exercises that sharply worsen leg symptoms tend to hold recovery back.Read moreOrthopaedic Can poor posture cause neck pain?
Staying in one position for a long time, such as looking down at a phone or laptop, can contribute to neck discomfort, but no single 'correct' posture prevents neck pain. Moving often, varying positions, building strength and staying active matter more than holding a perfect posture. Exercise and manual therapy are the main treatments for persistent neck pain.Read moreOrthopaedic What does a pinched nerve in the neck feel like, and how is it treated?
A pinched nerve in the neck, called cervical radiculopathy, usually causes pain spreading from the neck into the shoulder, arm or hand, often with tingling, numbness or weakness. Many cases improve over weeks to months without surgery. Physiotherapy, activity and pain management are the main treatments, with injections or surgery considered for persistent or severe cases.Read moreOrthopaedic How long does recovery take after a hip replacement?
Most people walk with an aid soon after a hip replacement and return to most daily activities within a few months. Strength, walking distance and confidence usually continue to improve for a long time afterwards. Early mobilisation, a structured exercise programme and following your surgeon's advice support a steady recovery.Read moreOrthopaedic Which movements should you avoid after a hip replacement?
Movement restrictions after a hip replacement depend on how the operation was done and on your surgeon's advice. Traditionally, people avoided bending the hip past a right angle, crossing the legs and twisting the leg inwards. Evidence for strict precautions is limited, so many teams now tailor advice to the individual.Read moreOrthopaedic How long does frozen shoulder last?
Frozen shoulder often lasts for years, and some people keep a degree of stiffness long term. Pain usually eases before movement returns. The old belief that it always resolves fully on its own is not well supported. Education, stretching within comfort, and in selected cases a steroid injection can reduce pain and improve movement.Read moreOrthopaedic Does a rotator cuff tear always need surgery?
No. Many rotator cuff tears, especially those that develop gradually with age, are managed well with exercise-based physiotherapy. Tears are common on scans even in people without pain. Surgery is considered more often for tears caused by a significant injury, for younger active people, or when pain and weakness persist despite good non-surgical treatment.Read moreOrthopaedic What is recovery like after rotator cuff repair surgery?
Recovery after rotator cuff repair is gradual. Most people wear a sling for a period, begin guided movement early, start strengthening once the tendon has had time to heal and continue improving for many months afterwards. The repaired tendon needs time to heal to the bone, so following the rehabilitation stages set by your surgical team matters.Read moreOrthopaedic How long does plantar fasciitis take to heal?
Plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel pain in adults, often improves over time with simple measures such as stretching, supportive footwear, taping and insoles. Some cases take much longer to settle. Shockwave therapy may help when pain persists despite a sustained period of conservative treatment. Surgery is rarely needed.Read moreOrthopaedic What helps tennis elbow, and how long does it last?
Tennis elbow usually improves over months, and most people improve considerably over time. Education, adjusting activities that load the forearm and progressive strengthening exercises are the main treatments. Steroid injections can ease pain briefly but were linked with poorer longer-term recovery and more recurrence than a placebo injection in a randomised trial.Read moreOrthopaedic Can carpal tunnel syndrome be treated without surgery?
Mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome is often managed without surgery using night-time wrist splints, activity changes, hand therapy and sometimes a steroid injection. Evidence for splinting alone is limited, so results vary between people. Surgery is usually recommended when numbness is constant, the thumb muscles weaken or waste, or symptoms persist despite non-surgical care.Read moreOrthopaedic Can a torn meniscus heal without surgery?
It depends on the type of tear. Degenerative meniscus tears in middle-aged adults often improve with exercise therapy as much as with keyhole surgery. Some tears in younger people, particularly after a twisting injury, may heal or benefit from repair. A knee that locks and cannot straighten needs prompt assessment by a specialist.Read moreOrthopaedic Why does my knee hurt when going down stairs?
Knee pain going down stairs often comes from the joint behind the kneecap, known as patellofemoral pain, or from knee osteoarthritis. Descending stairs places high load on the front of the knee. Strengthening the hip and thigh muscles, adjusting activity levels and, in the short term, taping or foot orthoses usually help reduce pain.Read moreOrthopaedic When can you walk after a broken ankle?
The timing depends on the fracture and whether it was fixed with surgery. Some stable fractures allow walking in a boot within days, while others need weeks of protected weight-bearing. After surgical fixation, trials suggest earlier weight-bearing and removable supports are generally safe. Most people are walking normally again within several months, with gradual improvement afterwards.Read moreOrthopaedic What is recovery like after lumbar spinal fusion?
Recovery after lumbar spinal fusion takes months. Most people walk within a day or two, return to light activities within weeks, and continue improving for a long time as the bones fuse. Rehabilitation that combines exercise with approaches that address fear of movement may reduce disability more than usual care.Read moreOrthopaedic Does scoliosis get worse in adulthood?
Some adult scoliosis curves stay stable for life, while others progress slowly, particularly larger curves and curves caused by age-related wear of the spine. Pain, stiffness and leg symptoms matter more than the curve angle alone. Exercise, pain management and regular monitoring suit many adults, and surgery is considered for progressive deformity or significant disability.Read moreOrthopaedic Is exercise safe with spondylolisthesis?
For most people with spondylolisthesis, exercise is safe and is a central part of treatment. A tailored programme that strengthens the trunk and hips, improves flexibility and builds walking tolerance can reduce pain. Some movements, such as repeated heavy backward bending, may need to be limited at first. Surgery is considered when symptoms persist or nerves are compressed.Read moreOrthopaedic Can a bunion be corrected without surgery?
Non-surgical treatments cannot straighten a bunion, but wider footwear, padding, insoles and exercises can reduce pain and pressure. Trials comparing conservative treatments with no treatment found no clear difference in outcomes. Surgery is the only way to correct the deformity and is usually considered when pain limits daily activities despite footwear changes.Read more
