There are many types of bleeding disorders or types or hemophilias. Different types are determined by different faults in the cascade of chemicals that help our blood to form a clot when we bleed. This cascade effect enables the right building blocks to be in place to form the physical clot and so stop bleeding. Interestingly, if you have haemophilia you don’t bleed faster, you just bleed for longer if it is not stopped.
Since the 1970’s there have been many advances in the medical management of haemophilia. We now have clotting factor replacement therapy, which can prevent further excessive bleeding. So long as regular and careful assessment of bleeds is taken, people who have haemophilia are able to prevent the type of repeated and unstoppable major bleeds seen in the past.
The problem with large amounts of blood bleeding into a joint or muscle is that blood can be corrosive and harmful to joint surfaces and can also cause other complications. Muscles don’t like to work in areas where there is a lot of blood and swelling due to bleeding, as it puts extra stress on to already vulnerable joints. If the bleed builds up in a small space it can cause pressure to build up on nerves or other tissues, and if left too long this can cause damage. This is where physiotherapy treatment can be extremely useful. Careful assessment of joint movement and any stiffness developing due to swelling can be identified and treated. This is vital in order to maintain good healthy joints. Utilising techniques to reduce the swelling as quickly as possible ensures muscles can be kick started back into optimal performance at the earliest opportunity.
Because people with haemophilia do bleed after injury, it can be daunting to untrained professionals to be treating someone with this condition. At Physiocomestoyou we have physiotherapists with experience in treating people with haemophilia and so they have the confidence to utilise manual therapy techniques to improve joint movement, muscle stretching methods and also specialised exercises aimed at regaining lost movement and function. To book an initial appointment with one of our specialist physios, contact us today on 020 7884 0374 or email info@physiocomestoyou.com.