On yesterday’s Radio 4 programme, Inside Health, Dr Potter discussed whether surgeons are maybe too eager and/or too quick to carry out knee arthroscopies.

An arthroscopy (key hole surgery) can be the only or best solution for a number of knee issues. However, research has found that conservative management or physiotherapy, can be a better alternative, with the same outcomes as surgery. In other cases, physiotherapy can help significantly delay the need for surgery.

This is really encouraging for those that suffer with knee pain. No one wants to undergo surgery unnecessarily.

What was mentioned though was that access to physiotherapy is needed to meet these recommendations. Research has indicated that 1-2 hours of physio is required for 2-3 months, yet with pressures in the NHS this is rarely achievable. Even private insurance companies now are limiting the number of physiotherapy sessions that are covered by their policies in an aim to keep their costs down and stay profitable.

The alternative is coming to a clinic such as ours, where physio is self funded. Your treatment plan is tailored to your individual presentation and life-style. This can be a small price to pay to avoid surgery.

If you’d like to listen to the full programme, click on this link and you’ll find the arthroscopy segment 6m 50 s in.