Foot injuries are common among athletes during their career and can cause a lot of pain, discomfort and in some cases can sideline them for some time. Overuse, overtraining, weak muscles and tendons, trauma, poor technique and incorrect footwear can all lead to foot injuries. In this article, we will look at some of the …
Commonly called “herniated disc” or “ruptured disc” (or misleadingly called “slipped disc”), one of the common conditions we treat is disc prolapse. The spinal column is made up of several bones called vertebrae. Between these vertebrae are discs which prevent the bones from rubbing against each other during movement and act as shock absorbers during …
Compartment syndrome is a condition caused by swelling within the space or “compartment” that contains muscles, nerves, blood vessels and bones. Pressure on arteries, veins and nerves causes severe pain and slows the circulation to these parts potentially causing permanent damage. Acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Chronic compartment syndrome is …
The calf muscle is made up of the gastrocnemius muscle which is the large muscle at the back of the lower leg and the soleus, a smaller one located just below the gastrocnemius. These muscles can become injured or torn due to overstretching or overuse. Calf strains are common in athletes, especially runners. Symptoms of …
About 80 percent of people will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is common among athletes who strain their back muscles or it may be the result of spinal injuries such as fractures or sprains. Unfortunately if not cared for, 84 percent of those who had back pain once, …
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four main ligaments in the knee. It binds the back of the thigh bone (femur) to the front of the shin bone (tibia). If the ACL is damaged the knee becomes unstable and may feel like it is “giving way”. An ACL injury is very common …
The ankle is the joint between the lower parts of the tibia and fibula (shin bones) and the tarsal bones at the back of the foot. It is crisscrossed by several ligaments that can become injured when the ankle has a sudden twist that stretches the ligaments beyond their normal range. The most common type …
A tendon is a band of tissue that connects muscle to bone. The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel, allowing you to walk, run and jump. Achilles tendinopathy, the strain of the Achilles tendon, is a common injury that may affect runners, or people with overpronated (flat) feet or those with high …
As physiotherapists, we treat several musculoskeletal conditions – a broad term that encompasses damage to bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. Because these conditions are so wide-ranging, they may affect anyone from children (e.g. juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) to the elderly (e.g. osteoporosis) to sportsmen (e.g. muscle tears). Other conditions which fall under this heading include …
We see many patients who have been involved in motor vehicle accidents. We treat patients who have suffered whiplash injuries and provide rehabilitation following fractures and major trauma. Physiotherapy is involved in all phases of rehabilitation, from the acute stage through to recovery. During the acute stage, gentle stretching exercises will be provided to prevent …
