Trigger points are described as a tender spot in a tight band of muscle, that is painful on palpation or touch. They are commonly called “knots” and may cause pain locally, may refer pain to a different area of the body or may limit range of motion. They are caused by overactivity in a muscle, which may be a result of the likes of poor posture, muscle imbalances, overuse in sport or daily activities, or stress. Read more
Have you been experiencing pain along the arch of your foot near the base of heel? Do you feel like you have a bruise on the pad of your heel?
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the fibrous tissue that lies on the sole of your foot extending from the heel to the base of the toes.
The theory behind plantar fasciitis is that there is a cumulative overload on the feet causing microtears and degeneration of the plantar fascia tissue. Contributing factors to this overload may be: anatomical variations such as being flat footed; excessive foot pronation; inadequate footwear; change in training methods and intensity; tight calf muscles; or being overweight.
Quadriceps contusion or “cork thigh” is the result of a severe impact to the thigh, often causing deep rupture to the muscle tissue and bleeding occurs, followed by inflammation.
The amount of force and the impact of the force, at the time of trauma will determine the extent of the pain and the loss of movement.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition where the two bones of the hip are abnormally shaped, hence do not fit together properly, causing the two bones to rub against each other and cause damage to the joint.
A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a weight bearing bone. It can occur in any part of the body but predominantly occur in the lower leg or feet.
Stress fractures are related to overuse where the supporting muscles become fatigued and no longer absorb the continuing stress of the aggravating activity such as running. As a consequence the stress transfers over to the bone and tiny cracks can form.
Possible causes of stress fractures could be: sudden increases in training frequency, intensity or duration; poor conditioning; incorrect technique; change in training surface; poor foot wear; or anatomical variations such as flat feet, or bowed legs or knock knees that may cause an overload on certain bones. Read more
A direct blow to the chest or to the ribs themselves may cause the ribs to bruise, break or separate from the breastbone. Whilst bruised ribs are extremely painful, in most cases they heal completely. The injury is referred to as bruised ribs but majority of the pain is caused by injury to the surrounding muscle and rib cartilage.