Physiotherapy can be an important part of managing your condition. Bleeding into your joints and muscles can cause pain, loss of movement and muscle weakness. The physiotherapist has an active role in helping to minimise or prevent complications involving your joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves and helping to make sure you can move, walk and be active.

You will often see the physiotherapist as part of outpatient appointments. They will complete a full musculoskeltal assessment that helps them to monitor your joint health and function, this assessment will often happen twice a year. It will involve looking at your joint range, muscle strength, co-ordination, balance, walking, running and hopping. These assessments ensure any problems with joints or muscles are identified early to minimise further bleeding.

These assessments will help the physiotherapist to ensure that the right support and treatment is in place for you. They can also help advise you activity and sports and exercises that can help you manage your condition and how to recognise and manage a bleed. They are a great person to talk to and ask any questions you may have.

What sort of things might physiotherapy involve?

If you have an acute joint or muscle bleed, a physiotherapist may advise PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation). This could also involve the use of splints, crutches, stretches or strengthening exercises. They might support you with some of these activities in the physiotherapy department, or advise you on completing at home. These are carried out until the joint or muscle is back to its previous function.

You can get in contact with the Childrens haemophilia team physiotherapist on 0117 342 8525. If you have moved to adult services then contact your team for more information. You can find their details on the support tab.