Burns and plastics therapy services

We work with adults and children who have suffered burns to all areas of the body.

The role of the physiotherapist is varied and involves advising on ways to help a patient’s breathing, improving a patient’s comfort, and restoring mobility.

Additionally, the physiotherapist may be asked to give advice on the extent of a patients potential after rehabilitation.

Our physiotherapists help improve our patient’s breathing. This is especially important and particularly whilst a patient needs mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Normally patients in ICU will be assessed and receive physiotherapy treatment twice per day, however, burn patients often need chest physiotherapy many times throughout the day and night until a more normal breathing function is restored.

Patients who have had head and neck cancer or ENT surgery will need physiotherapy to maintain a clear chest afterwards, to manage and remove the tracheostomy tube at the right time, and to restore general mobility. 

Patients who are very unwell following burns, surgery and other illness may be confined to bed over a protracted period. This results in a rapid loss of muscle tissue and strength whilst prolonged limited movement leads to restricted and sometimes painful movement of important joints. It’s vital that physiotherapy is available to provide a range of rehabilitation exercises designed to support the patient’s limbs and optimise movement and comfort.

Additionally, the physiotherapist is available to help to restore the patient’s baseline mobility.

As a burn patient’s wounds heal, physiotherapy and occupational therapy will be needed to make sure that scars are kept as soft and supple as possible using massage techniques and pressure therapy.

The occupational therapists focus is to preserve the patient’s functional movement throughout the rehabilitation process, providing help and practise of the activities of daily living such as feeding, washing and returning to normal routines.

Occupational therapists tend to concentrate on rehabilitation of the upper limbs, as daily functions depend a great deal on a range of good hand and arm movements.

They will make special splints, specifically designed for each patient to maintain functional positions of joints and discourage the formation of deformities after burns and long periods of immobility.

We provide specialist care for both adults and children with both non-surgical or surgical conditions of the hand and forearm. Care is carried out by a specialist hand therapist and will work closely with plastic and orthopaedic surgeons.  

Patients will receive individual assessments and treatment sessions.  

Your therapist will have detailed knowledge and understanding of your surgery or condition and will plan with you a treatment programme.  This may include various evidence-based assessments.  Treatments may include splinting, paraffin wax, electrotherapy, exercises, joint mobilisation and rehabilitation to support your return to work and leisure activities.