Bob Mulendo, Paje
Dear Dr. Jenny,
I consider myself a sporty guy and love kitesurfing in Zanzibar. But lately I have been suffering from a sore lower back and sore legs. I heard about the new physiotherapist in your clinic. What services does he offer? PS: My girlfriend said she has a stiff neck. Could we both book in?
Dr. Jenny Bouraima answers:
Dear Bob Mulendo,
we indeed offer physiotherapy at Urban Clinic and I will refer you straight to our therapist Cedric Kaster to explain the options available. And of course your girlfriend may also come for a diagnosis and treatment. Back and neck pains can seriously hamper your wellbeing and become chronic when untreated.
Physiotherapist Cedric Kaster:
Firstly, a proper assessment will be necessary to identify the reason for the soreness, pain, or discomfort you are feeling. A good physiotherapist will always try to find out as much as possible about the origins of your suffering by asking you questions about your personal history and condition.
We will take a look at your mobility, strength, and stability to try to isolate the structure causing the problem. After that we can provide different kind of treatments:
- Manual therapy to reduce the tension accumulated in the muscle but also to improve the mobility of the joints.
- A tailored exercise plan to reduce the pain or discomfort you are feeling and to prevent it from coming back. We will help you improve your mobility, strength, and stability in specific areas that may cause your problem.
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage, in case of swelling. It is a light massage that helps to reduce swelling after an injury, for example.
Most of the time a combination of these interventions will provide the best relief. Costs per session: USD 25; some insurances cover the therapy when prescribed by a doctor.
The physiotherapist will develop a treatment recommendation that includes frequency of revisits and home exercises that fits your needs.
Physiotherapy usually has to be applied for several sessions over a number of weeks. It is not a quick cure, but it is effective.
