ABSTRACT
The GP often refers patients directly to the physiotherapist, or the referral may be dealt with via the rheumatologists. There are many initiatives under way to fast track patients by a means of rapid referral to physiotherapy whenever possible. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight some of the priorities of the physiotherapist in the methods of assessment and treatment which will enable the patient to access physiotherapy as early as possible. This chapter will give an insight into the area of physiotherapy and its various treatment initiatives in some of the common diagnoses. The rheumatology physiotherapist is a specialist practitioner who often deals with the following diagnoses in broad categories including:
■ rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory arthritis; ■ spondyloarthropathies; ■ connective tissue diseases; ■ systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); ■ localised soft tissue rheumatism; ■ low back pain/cervical pain; ■ crystal arthritis.
