What we do - Assessment
The term "Rheumatology" covers lots of conditions, but we are most likely to see you if your condition affects your joints or soft tissues.
Different types of arthritis and connective tissue disease can affect different areas of the body.
- We will assess you and give you advice and education to help you self-manage your condition in the long term and optimise your function and quality of life. We may do this through a combination of stretching, strengthening and lifestyle management.
- We use an outcome measure called HAQ to help us get a measure of how your condition affects your daily life.
- You may be asked to complete this questionnaire after your first appointment. It will be sent to you via email.
- Timely intervention is important.
- Arthritis and connective tissue diseases can be progressive, so it is important to seek us out early.
- Physiotherapy is part of a multidisciplinary approach to managing rheumatological conditions. It is in addition to medication management from the Multidisciplinary team.
- We are aware that sometimes short flares of your arthritis can be disabling and that it can get more difficult or take longer to get back to normal. Seeing you early can prevent further loss of function and get you back moving again more quickly. This is why it is important that you know how to be referred to us.
