In sport, excessive gripping can result in tennis elbow, which is due to
lack of strength, faulty or ill-fitting equipment or progressing into a sport
too quickly. In tennis, a common cause is a racquet's inappropriate
string tension and grip circumference. The onset of pain
on the outside (lateral) of the elbow, is usually gradual with tenderness felt
on or below the joint's bony prominence.
The cause of GOLFER'S ELBOW are similar to tennis elbow,
but pain and tenderness are felt on the inside (medial) of the elbow, on or
around the joint's bony prominence.
Sciatica refers to pain that begins in the hip and buttocks and continues
all the way down the leg. This condition is often accompanied by low back
pain, which can be more or less severe than the leg pain. The term
"sciatica" indicates that the sciatic nerve, which travels from the
lower back through the buttocks and into the leg, is thought to be the cause
of the pain in this condition. Many pregnant woman develop severe cases.
What is a Hamstring Strain?
A hamstring strain or a pulled hamstring is a tear in one of the
hamstrings muscles. It often results from an overload of the muscles or
trying to move the muscles too fast. If you have taken an impact in the back
of the leg it must be treated as a contusion. Improper stretching and
overuse can result in a hamstring strain. Chronic injuries arise from not
properly rehabilitating acute hamstring injuries, but may also occur from
small amounts of repeated trauma over a period of time. Poor flexibility of
the hamstring increases the likelihood of small tears, which causes the
muscle to shorten and get tighter.
Symptoms
- A sudden sharp pain at the back of the leg.
- Muscles going into spasm.
- Swelling and bruising.
- If the rupture is very bad you can feel a
gap in the muscle.
Rotator Cuff Syndrome
What is Rotator Cuff Syndrome?
Your rotator cuff is a very powerful team of muscles and connecting tendons
that attach your upper arm to your shoulder blade. The rotator cuff helps you
reach, throw, push, pull, and lift. The pain occurs when the tendons in your
rotator cuff are swollen. There are several things that can cause this area to
hurt if you fall on your shoulder, or lifting and reaching too much, or if you
threw too many pitches.
Symptoms
- Pain when you bend the arm and rotate it
outwards against resistance.
- Pain on the outside of the shoulder possibly
radiating down into the arm.
- Pain in the shoulder, which is worse at
night.
- Stiffness in the shoulder joint.
Achilles
Tendonitis
SYMPTOMS
Pain
along length of tendon, most commonly near the heel.
Inflammation,
redness.
A
'bump' indicating scar tissue build up.
Burning
or discomfort in the morning after getting out of bed.
CAUSE
Micro-tears
or inflammation due to stress.
Not
stretching well.
Stretching
a cold muscle - not warmed up enough.
Tight
or fatigued calf muscle.
Speed-work,
hill training, rapid increase in
Iliotibial
Band Syndrome
What is Iliotibial Band Syndrome?
Iliotibial band syndrome is also known as runner's knee. The
iliotibial band runs down the outside of the thigh. When it becomes tight the
tendon starts to rub on the bone at the knee. Eventually it will become inflamed
and cause pain when you run. Resting will decrease the pain, but when you run
again the pain will return.
Symptoms
- Swelling
- Knee gives out
- Pain when you walk and/or run.
|
A Healthy Knee
Ligaments connect the bones and help
brace the joint by limiting forward and sideways motion and rotation.
Muscles, connected to the bones
by tendons, provide strength for movement. |
An Injured Knee
Long-term wear, overuse, or a sudden
injury, such as twisting your knee, can cause the muscles and tendons to
overstretch (strain) or the ligaments to tear (sprain). The bones
may twist, causing a misaligned joint. |
Piriformis
Syndrome
What is Piriformis Syndrome?
Piriformis syndrome is commonly referred
to as pain in the butt. The piriformis muscle is a small muscle deep under the
glutes. It is triangular in shape with the wide end attached to the front of the
sacrum and the narrow end attached to the hip.
Symptoms
- Pain that radiates down the leg.
Common Causes
The most common causes of piriformis problems are hours of
prolonged sitting, such as working at a computer or driving long distances;
activities that involve twisting or rotating the torso, such as serving a
tennis ball; and trauma caused by a fall onto the buttock. Runners who do not
stretch enough. Men who carry a fat wallet in their back pants pocket can also
experience the syndrome, which can happen to almost anyone regardless of age,
weight, sex, or physical fitness.
What is Hip Flexor Pain?
The hip flexors are a group of muscles that move the hip forward when
running and walking. A great deal of stress is applied to this muscle group
when sprinting and kicking. A strain can vary anywhere from stretching to a
complete tear of the muscle tissue. This injury occurs in bicyclists, athletes
who jump or run with high knee kicks, athletes like soccer players who do
forceful kicking activities, and people who practice the martial arts.
Symptoms
- Pain in the upper groin region where the
thigh meets the pelvis.
Shoulder
Impingement
What is a Shoulder Impingement?
Shoulder impingement is when the space between the rotator cuff and the bony
acromion around it is narrowed and the bone pinches and irritates the cuff. This
happens when the cuff is weak, the bursa is swollen, or the acromion angles down
too far. A shoulder impingement can happen when the rotator cuff is weak or when
the bursa is swollen. An impingement can cause tendonitis if you participate in
any sports or activities that require a repetitive shoulder movement, such as
overhead reaching.
Symptoms
- Pain in your shoulder
- Soreness
- Swelling
