A-Z of Injuries - Westport Physiotherapy & Acupuncture Clinic

The Achilles tendon is a very strong tendon at the back of the heel. It connects the calf muscle to the heel. It’s primary purpose is to help with walking, running and general movement of the foot. It can become inflamed and painful (tendonopathy or tendonitis) with overuse from, for example, increasing training levels too quickly, inappropriate footwear, poor muscle strength and flexibility.

Signs and symptoms of Achilles tendonopathy:

• Pain in the tendon area, especially on walking and running.
• Thickening of the tendon
• Tenderness of the tendon

If you experience pain in this area, ice it regularly, stretch your calf muscle and tendon (pain free), look at your training methods, running surface and footwear.

Modify your training, so that you do not run downhill, or engage in jumping activities. Alternatively you can look at swimming and cycling as aerobic form of exercise.

As a general rule, make sure you only increase you training intensity, distance and duration by no more than 10% a week

Physiotherapy treatment for Achilles tendonitis will concentrate on breaking down scar tissue, stretching and mobilising the tendon as well as strengthening the whole calf muscle. Balance rehabilitation is also very important in the return to function. A thorough biomechanical assessment to determine if a change of footwear or insoles are required[...]

The calf muscle usually gets overstretched or pulled during sporting activities. It can be classified as a grade I, II or III depending on the severity.

• Grade I: a sensation of cramping or tightness when the muscle is stretched or contracted.
• Grade II: causes more immediate and severe pain, the calf is sore to touch and may be bruised or swollen.
• Grade III: pain is present on all movements; there may be a bulge or palpable gap in the soft tissue.

The immediate treatment includes POLICE, Protect, optimal loading, ice, compression and elevation. Depending on the severity of the tear it can take up to 6 weeks to several months to recover.[...]

Tibialis posterior pain is an injury common to runners. The tendon becomes inflamed, partially torn or ruptured, causing pain behind the bone on the inside of the ankle. A direct blow can cause the condition but can also occur gradually due to overuse in runners.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain on the inside of the ankle on movement
• Especially on pointing the foot down and inwards
• Pain on the arch of the foot when walking on uneven ground
• Flattening foot arch

Treatment aims to strengthen the muscle and tendon to improve foot mechanics and reduce pain.

[...]

Shin splints are a broad name for several different conditions that cause pain at the site of the shin. Medial tibial stress syndrome is an irritation of the shin bone; it can be caused by overuse in runners or sports people where training on hard surfaces is regular.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain on the inner border of the shin during or following exercise
• At first shin pain eases with activity but aches afterward

Physiotherapy treatment aims to reduce the pain and to modify activity as rehabilitation aims to address on underlying issues intrinsic or extrinsic that contributed to the condition, including improving lower limb shock absorbency.

[...]

Thankfully is a very rare occurrence in sporting events. A suspected broken vertebra (spinal bone) is a medical emergency that requires urgent treatment by appropriately qualified healthcare professionals.[...]

Tension headaches:

Tension headaches are one of the most common causes of headaches. The common causes are; poor posture, stress, fatigue, poor sleep, irregular diet and eyestrain.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain can be described as a constant pressure on both sides of the head
• Radiate from the back of the head, neck and eyes. It is usually described as
• Mild or moderate in nature and can last for 4-6 hours in duration.

Physiotherapy aims to address the causes of the headache and reduce the pain and discomfort associated with it.[...]

A muscle strain of the abdominal can occur during sporting activity or when performing stomach exercises. Usually a muscle strain is a tear within the muscle caused by forcibility stretching a muscle beyond it limits.

Signs & symptoms:

• Abdominal pain when attempting to sit up
• Pain when bending backwards as the stomach muscles stretch

Physiotherapy aims to reduce pain and swelling associated with the tear. Usually a rest period of 204 weeks will be required depending on the severity.

[...]

Most common in kicking sports such as soccer, Gaelic football and rugby.

Signs and symptoms:

• Progressively worsening pain of the abdominal and groin region
• Pain on coughing and sneezing
• Pain when squeezing the legs together#

Physiotherapy treatment involves stabilising and strengthening the muscles of the pelvis region, but ultimately a surgical approach and hernia repair may be required.[...]

A Ssrain of the adductor muscle is considered a groin strain and mainly occurs in football. This tear usually occurs when the muscle on the inside of the thigh is overstretched beyond its limits.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain, tightness or cramp in the inner thigh
• Pain when kicking a ball and turning
• If severe pain on walking

The immediate treatment includes POLICE, protect, optimal loading, ice, compression and elevation. Depending on the severity of the tear it can take up to 6 weeks to recover.[...]

These two hip flexor muscles the iliacus and psoas muscle are commonly affected, especially when kicking a football. Where the tendon attaches to the front of the hip joint there is a small sac of fluid (bursa), the pain can be associated with inflammation and irritation of the tendon or bursa.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain in anterior hip and thigh region
• Hip stiffness
• Clicking or snapping hip
• Pain on lifting the knee up
• Pain on stretching the hip flexor
• Pain when attempting to kick

Physiotherapy treatment aims to settle the condition down by reducing inflammation and improving strength and flexibility of the hip muscles. It can take a duration of 6 weeks with a gradual return to full sporting activity.[...]

The inguinal hernia is a protrusion of the abdominal content through a weakness in the connective tissue of the inguinal canal in the groin. This is common in sports but especially soccer with the large twisting forces placed on the pelvis.

Signs & symptoms:

• Abdominal or groin pain worse after activity
• Pain on coughing and sneezing
• Pain when squeezing the legs together

Osteoitis pubis affects the area at the front of the pelvis known as the pubic symphysis. Only a limited amount of movement can occur at this joint, as it is a cartilaginous joint that has tightly bound by strong ligaments.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain in the front of the pelvis following activity
• Pain when palpating the pubic symphysis

This condition can be very resistant to treatment and can last from 6 months to 2 years. Relative rest is often the treatment of choice, also to address any mal-alignments that may cause increased pressure on the structures.

[...]

The sacroiliac joint is situated at the back of the pelvis. The main causes are a biomechanical mal-alignment, a traumatic event, and hormonal changes during pregnancy or inflammatory joint disease. It can refer to the buttock or thigh but rarely goes below the level of the knee.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain in the lower back and buttock
• A blocked feeling in the lower back

Physiotherapy aim is to treat the cause of the pain, therefore restoring normal joint mechanics by removing abnormal ligament stress in this area. The long term aim is to improve strength and stability in the area and aid normal movement patterns.[...]

Usually the hamstring is stretched beyond its normal limits leading to a tear in the muscle. There are three levels a grade I,II & III. Depending on the severity of tear the time to return to sporting activity will vary.

Signs & symptoms:

• Sudden sharp pain in the hamstring
• Pain when stretching the hamstring
• Hamstring on muscle testing

The immediate treatment includes POLICE, Protect, optimal loading, ice, compression and elevation. Depending on the severity of the tear it can take anywhere from 6 weeks to a few months to return to full fitness. Physiotherapy promotes gradual increases in length and strength of the affected muscle while address any imbalances that may have contributed to the injury in the first place. If there is a complete tear surgical intervention may be required.[...]

The bursa is a small fluid filled sac situated at the lateral side of the hip joint which reduces friction between the tendon and the bone. This can become inflamed or irritated due to a direct blow or too much stress on the tissue.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain on the outer side of the hip
• May radiate down the leg
• Aggravated by walking running or climbing stairs
• Pain when lying on the affected side

The aim of physiotherapy is to reduce the inflammation by addressing the underlying cause of the problem.[...]

The labrum is a fibrocartilage ring located in the socket if the hip joint. Its job is to give stability to the hip joint, allow space between the femoral head and socket and as a shock absorber. It can become injured with a twisting motion when the leg is weight bearing, can happen during sporting activities.

Signs & symptoms:

• Pain diffuse around the hip
• Pain or catching on hip flexion
• Pain on activity involving twisting

Treatment may involve a hip arthroscopy where the offending cartilage can be fixed or removed, followed by a gradual rehabilitation programme by your physiotherapist with return to sport in approx. 3 months.[...]

This hip condition usually manifests itself in middle age, causing pain and stiffness of the hip joint. The degeneration of the joint can be due to overuse or a labrum/cartilage tear of the hip joint.

The damage to the hip joint surface can be a result of sporting trauma or repetitive stresses over a long period of time but don’t show up until middle age.

Signs & symptoms:

• Hip pain and stiffness
• History of trauma or surgery
• As it progresses, may radiate to the thigh or back
• Muscle wasting as condition worsens.

Physiotherapy aims to reduce pain and improve function and strength. If conservative management is not affective surgical intervention may be required. [...]

The quadriceps muscle is located on the front of the thigh and is responsible for straightening the knee. A tear of this muscle usually occurs when kicking repeatedly or with excessive force.

Signs & symptoms:

• Sudden sharp pain in the thigh
• Pain when stretching the thigh
• Pain when resisting straightening of the knee

The immediate treatment includes POLICE, Protect, optimal loading, ice, compression and elevation. Depending on the severity of the tear it can take anywhere from 6 weeks to a few months to return to full fitness. Physiotherapy promotes gradual increases in length and strength of the affected muscle while address any imbalances that may have contributed to the injury in the first place.

[...]

(ACL)

The anterior cruciate lies deep in the knee joint, injury to this ligament is fairly common in sports that involve twisting and changing direction.

Signs & symptoms:

• Knee pain
• Knee instability especially on turning
• Swelling of knee

Treatment for most ACL injuries is surgical reconstruction to restore knee joint stability and reduce the risk of developing arthritic changes. Physiotherapy is required to supervise the rehabilitation process following surgery and can last up to 1 year.

[...]