Physiotherapy Treatments

Remedial Exercises: Sling Suspension Exercises

Physiotherapy treatments were used to retrain and rebuild muscles, to treat the effects of polio and to relieve rheumatism through sling and pulley suspension.

Physiotherapy with sling suspension apparatus used sets of hooks, pulleys and canvas slings to support different parts of the body. Pulleys were attached to a suspension frame above a bed. Green slings were attached to this at the bottom of the pulley and then legs or arms put into a sling. Metal springs were attached to the pulleys to create resistance to movement. To build up muscles, you would put two parts of a leg into the slings, for example a knee and ankle, put a weight on the foot and move it up and down to build up the thigh. Green weight bags were hooked on to the apparatus to create extra work for the muscles.

The gym was converted in the late 1960s when 'passive' treatments such as Zotofoam and Nauheim baths went out of fashion, in favour of more active physiotherapy treatments. The gym was a long narrow room containing exercise bicycles, treadmills and wall bars. Occasionally electrical treatments were also carried out there. By the 1960s treatments were increasingly focussed on active physiotherapy. To start with equipment was used for pain relief, then a physiotherapist would set exercises for the patient to continue at home. In the 1960s large exercise groups were held in the gym, with 'columns of people doing exercise in union.' These later developed into smaller groups with more individual attention.

Spinal Traction

Harnesses stretched the back and chest or suspended the head to treat neck and spine problems.

Two forms of traction were carried out in the Pump Rooms to treat neck and spine problems. Lumbar Traction involved thick padded belts strapped round the waist and body. These were hooked to a table and the two belts wound apart from each other to stretch the back.

Traction harnesses for upper body and waist (M4625.2004.1 and M4625.2004.2)

Cervical traction treated the neck and could be given manually or with apparatus. The harness was made of two leather straps, one going under the chin, the other behind the head, hung on a metal frame and wound tight to the required tension. Treatment could last from a few minutes to up to forty minutes. This was still in use in the 1990s but used more sophisticated electrically controlled equipment. Traction went out of favour as it was potentially harmful if not supervised properly or if the patient moved at all.

History - later medical treatments
Hydrotherapy and Bath Treatments
Therapool Treatments and Polio
Heat and Light Treatments
Electrotherapy
Physiotherapy Treatments