WHIPLASH
What is Whiplash? Whiplash is defined as an acute acceleration/ deceleration injury to the cervical spine (neck), where the head is flung forwards and backwards at high speeds. Whiplash injury can result in damage to the joints within the neck, the bones, the soft tissue surrounding the neck or damage to the neural tissue. It […]
TIPS FOR SELF-CARE OF YOUR BACK
Back pain is rarely the result of one incident or injury. One of the keys to having a healthy back is understanding that most back injuries are the result of the cumulative effects of months or even years of poor posture, faulty body mechanics, stressful living and working habits, loss of flexibility and strength, and […]
TENNIS ELBOW (EXTENSOR TENDINOPATHY)
If you have pain on the outside of your elbow and are involved in activities that require repeated use of your forearm (such as typing, painting, knitting, hammering or playing tennis) and have trouble with gripping objects you may have tennis elbow. What is Tennis Elbow (Extensor Tendinopathy)? Tennis elbow refers to the overuse of […]
SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT
What is Shoulder Impingement? Shoulder impingement is a condition in which the tendons or bursa within your shoulder joint get trapped intermittently during shoulder movement. Trapping of these structures can cause sudden onset of pain and loss of movement, continually trapping or loading of these structures can result in tendinopathy or bursitis with ongoing pain. […]
SEVER’S DISEASE
If you’re a young basketballer/netballer/footballer and have heel pain when playing basketball or sports involving running or jumping, you may have a particular growth pain disorder called Sever’s Disease. What is Sever’s Disease? It is a condition (not a disease) usually affecting 9-15-year-olds that occurs at the back of the heel, where the Achilles tendon […]
SAFE LIFTING
How lifting can injure your back When you lift, your back is put under stress. Twisting or jerking while lifting and carrying can injure the small facet joints that guide movement of the back. The discs that separate the vertebrae (bones) and the ligaments that hold them together are also at risk. Discs are composed […]
ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR
What is a Rotator Cuff Repair? The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles and their tendons that attach from the scapula to the humerus. The muscles of the rotator cuff help stabilise the shoulder and enable you to lift your arm. The rotator cuff tendons can acutely tear or wear out as a result […]
ROTATOR CUFF TEAR
What is a Rotator Cuff Tear? A rotator cuff tear is a tear of one or more of your rotator cuff muscles that usually occur in the tendon where it connects to the shoulder. You have four rotator cuff muscles that originate at your shoulder blade and attach to the top of your arm to […]
QUADRICEPS MUSCLE STRAIN/TEAR
What is Quadriceps Muscle Strain? A quadriceps strain or tear is where the muscle fibres in the front of your thigh are suddenly overloaded and a degree of damage occurs in the muscle. The quadriceps are made up of four main muscles that connect from the front of your knee and join up near your […]
PATELLA FEMORAL JOINT PAIN (PFJP)
What is Patella Femoral Joint Pain (PFJP)? PFJP refers to pain in your knee, particularly around your knee cap. Your patella-femoral joint describes the joint in which your femur (thigh bone) and patella (knee cap) meet. Your knee cap sits and glides within a groove on the thigh bone. If the knee cap is not […]
OSTEOARTHRITIS
What is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that can affect the joints in your body. The most common joints that develop OA are in the knees, hips, spine and hands. Osteoarthritis is an umbrella term that describes variable degeneration within the joint. It can cause inflammation around the joint, damage to the joint cartilage, […]
OSGOOD SCHLATTERS DISEASE
If you have pain just below the knee and are either in your early to mid-teens or have recently had a growth spurt, you may have a growth pain called Osgood Schlatters Disease. What causes Osgood Schlatters Disease? It is a condition (not a disease) that occurs where the quadriceps tendon inserts below the knee. […]