Joint Pain & Injuries
Shoulder Pain
At PhysioMotion our skillful staff have extensive experience in treating shoulder injuries such as:
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Shoulder impingement issues
- Acute trauma: shoulder dislocations
- Pre & post-surgery rehabilitation for rotator cuff & labral repairs including fractures
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulders)
- Acromio-clavicular sprains (AC joint sprains)
- Clavicle fractures
Shoulder pain and stiffness is a common complaint amongst both athletic populations and sedentary groups. In particular, it occurs with sporting activities requiring overhead arm positions or throwing actions such as tennis, cricket, baseball, golf, badminton, swimming, resistance training, and basketball. Trauma in contact sports such as rugby is also frequent.
However, shoulder problems also arise frequently in a sedentary population due to poor postures. In all of these cases, the most common injury is known as ‘shoulder impingement’ associated with a ‘rotator cuff tendonitis’.
These problems are often multifactorial in their causes and the key to full recovery is identifying, in order of significance, the contributory factors.
A personalised progressive plan is standard at PhysioMotion that includes manual therapy, dry needling, ergonomics review and a highly specific shoulder training exercise program to coordinate movement patterns between the shoulder girdle, neck and thorax.
Knee Pain & Injury
At PhysioMotion, we are here to help alleviate your knee pain if you have any of the following issues:
- Knee sprain: ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL ligament sprains
- Meniscus (cartilage) tears & degenerative changes
- Anterior knee pain: Patello-femoral pain, Osgood Schlatter’s Knee, Patella tendonitis
- Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) or ‘runner’s knee’
- Pre & Post surgery: ACL & meniscus reconstructive surgery
- Baker’s cyst
- Osteoarthritis & Rheumatoid arthritis
The knee joint is comprised of the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), fibula (lower leg bone on the outside), patella (knee cap), meniscus (cartilage within the knee), and the surrounding muscles and ligaments – the medical (MCL) & lateral collateral (LCL) and the anterior (ACL) & posterior cruciate ligaments (PCL). The surface of the bones inside the knee joint is covered by articular cartilage, which absorbs shock and provides a smooth, gliding surface for joint movement.
Any one of these can be the source of knee pain, but two very common types of non-traumatic knee problems are patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS).
PFPS is discomfort often associated with crepitus (crackling sounds) at the front of the knee arising from the mal-tracking of the patella in its femoral groove (area where the knee cap moves). Poor biomechanics in the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) wears down the cartilage that lines both these structures thereby causing pain.
ITBS occurs when there is pain on the lateral aspect (outside area) of the knee. It is a non-traumatic overuse injury common in athletes caused by the iliotibial band (tendon like structure) rubbing against the lateral epicondyle of the knee (bony prominence) resulting in inflammation, swelling and pain of the iliotibial band.
A knee sprain occurs when a ligament within the knee is stretched or torn. Symptoms vary depending upon the grade (I, II, or III) of the sprain and the specific ligament that is injured – ACL, PCL, MCL and LCL and / or meniscus tears, although meniscus tears can be non-traumatic degenerative tears. The morbidity and management will vary depending on which of these ligaments is injured.
At PhysioMotion, we will provide the expertise required to treat knee issues to get you back to your sport and lifestyle.
Hip Pain & Injuries
If you have pain or stiffness in your hip, groin or thigh, our team at PhysioMotion will provide an accurate diagnosis of the problem and an effective treatment regime. We treat injuries such as:
- Labral tears
- Femoral-acetabular impingement syndromes (FAI)
- Pre & post-surgical rehabilitation for hip surgeries: hip replacements, FAI, labral repairs
- Hip bursitis issues
- Traumatic injury: Hip fractures, dislocations
- Undiagnosed chronic hip pain
- Groin & thigh pain related to the hip
The hip joint is a ball and socket synovial joint, formed by pelvic acetabulum (the socket), the labrum (cartilage rim) and the head of the femur (the ball). It forms a connection from the lower limb to the pelvic girdle, and is thus designed for stability and weight-bearing.
Common Hip Injuries
Common hip injuries include FAI and labral tears. FAI occurs when normal movement of the hip joint is restricted due to excessive bone growth on either the socket or the femur. This is caused by increased contact between the bones. Over time, this may cause labral tears, degeneration of the cartilage and bone spurs leading to osteoarthritis. Pain often occurs in the front aspect of the hip, but also in the groin or thigh and specifically when the hip is brought into flexion, adduction and internal rotation (cross legged sitting).
FAI may also be present in patients who don’t have any symptoms – it is essential therefore to determine whether any hip pain is related to a FAI or other potential causes. The expertise of our therapists at PhysioMotion will be able to make a definitive diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment.
A labral tear of the hip occurs when the labrum (cartilage rim of the socket) becomes detached or degenerates. The labrum cushions impact in the hip, provides a vacuum- like seal and increases the stability of the hip joint.
FAI’s are often associated with labral tears, but often, labral tears are present without a FAI. They both present with similar symptoms and a differential diagnosis is important in receiving appropriate management. Symptoms for both FAI and labral tears include:
∙ Hip or groin pain with prolonged sitting, stairs, squatting & pivoting / accelerating sports
∙ Pain in the thigh, groin, back or buttock
∙ Stiffness, restricted range, clicking, catching and giving way may be reported
∙ Pain with side lying on the painful hip
The underlying causes of both FAI and labral tears are ineffective biomechanical loading through the hip joint associated with non-optimal neuromuscular activation patterns.
This will present as asymmetrical strength and tone in the hip and trunk muscles. Specifically, the gluteals, deep hip, abdominal wall and spinal muscles.
Other causes are:
∙ Structural abnormalities – congenital hip problems causes wear and tear of the labrum leading to FAI
∙ Trauma – Injury in contact sports or dislocation e.g., a car accident
∙ Repetitive Motions – Sports such as running; twisting and pivoting sports such as golf, ballet, hockey, hockey, softball.
Effective early management of hip pain related to FAI & labral tears are crucial in preventing osteoarthritis and undesired compensatory patterns elsewhere in the musculoskeletal system.
Ankle & Foot Injuries
If you have either an acute ankle sprain or chronic issues in your ankle & foot complex, our team at PhysioMotion will provide an accurate diagnosis for the most effective treatment regime.
We treat injuries such as:
Ankle:
Acute ankle sprains & unresolved pain from an ankle injury
Fractures: undisplaced fractures, pre & post-surgical rehabilitation, talar dome, stress fractures from poor biomechanical loading
Stiffness in the ankle & calf muscles
Shin & lower leg pain often related to ankle & foot problems
Foot:
Heel pain : Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, Sever’s Disease
Fractures: acute & post-surgical cases, stress fractures from poor biomechanical loading
Metatarsalgia & Moreton’s neuromas
Bunion pain: whole body analysis to diagnose the cause of ineffective weight bearing on the bunion & associated joints
Stiff & painful joints of the feet
The ankle joint is a hinge joint that is formed by the talus, tibia and fibula bones. The major ligaments of the ankle are the large medial deltoid or medial collateral ligament (MCL), the lateral collateral ligaments (LCL) and the ligaments between the tibia and fibula bones (tibio-fibula syndesmosis).
The surface of the bones inside the ankle joint is covered by cartilage, which absorbs shock and provides a smooth, gliding surface for joint movement.
Ankle Injuries
Acute injuries to the ankle can cause considerable disability and time off sport. Commonly, it occurs in sports, either contact or non-contact that require twisting movements and sudden changes of direction, especially sports such as football, basketball, netball and hockey. Injuries range from mild with minimal damage to severe where ligaments can be ruptured, or bones fractured. Pain, bruising, or swelling may be present and can develop within minutes of the injury.
An ankle sprain occurs when a ligament within the ankle is overstretched or torn. Typically, the ankle is rolled outwards (LCL sprain) and less commonly, rolled inwards (MCL sprain). When a sprain is severe, it can cause a fracture of the fibula that can vary from a chip of bone to a displaced fracture requiring surgical intervention.
Symptoms vary depending upon the grade (I, II, or III) of the sprain and the specific ligament that is injured. The morbidity and management will vary depending on the severity of the ligaments injured and whether there are other associated fractures. At PhysioMotion, you can be confident that we will diagnose your injury accurately to ensure best practice management and return you to your full health.
- Pain & swelling
- Limited mobility
- Popping sensation or sound
- Inability to weight bear
- Bruising
Effective early management of ankle sprains is crucial in preventing re-occurrences and undesired compensatory patterns elsewhere in the musculoskeletal system. Often, mis-managed ankle sprains are the beginnings of other issues such as lower back pain and muscular imbalances.