 Neck Pain |
Wrist/Hand Pain |
Osgood-Shlatters Syndrome |
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| Headaches |
Upper Back Pain |
Foot Pain |
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| Rotator Cuff Injury |
Lower Back Pain |
Nerve Entrapments |
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| Elbow Pain |
Hip Pain |
Neck pain can affect up to 70% if individuals at some point in their life time. There are several structures in the neck that could cause pain including the facet joints, discs, muscles and ligaments. The cervical spine is an important part of the spine as it supports the head while allowing for a large range of motion to permit us to participate in our daily activities. Neck pain can be disabling if it is not addressed in an appropriate time and with the proper therapy.
The nerves in the neck innervate the arm and if an injury occurs affecting the nerves, arm symptoms including numbness, tingling, weakness, burning, and radiating pain may be present. It is important to address and diagnosis the cause of the symptoms in an appropriate time for a better prognosis.
A headache is a symptom that is present when the head and/or neck structures are irritated. Signs and symptoms that are associated with the headache, the pattern of the headache, and the location of the headache can determine the cause and diagnosis of the headache. Structures in the neck (facet joint, over activated muscles) can refer up to the head creating a headache.
The rotator cuff consists of five muscles: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres major, Teres minor, and the Subscapularis. The rotator cuff can be stressed in activities like baseball, gymnastics, tennis, and golf. It can also be impacted by poor posture during computer or desk work. Proper biomechanics of the arm and shoulder blade play an important role in permitting the rotator cuff to function well. An orthopedic and functional assessment of the shoulder is required to diagnosis a rotator cuff injury.
Other conditions that have an affect on the rotator cuff may include Frozen Shoulder, Labrum tear, AC joint sprain, and Thoracic facet syndrome.
The elbows primary function is to be stable when the hand is weight bearing and to straighten and bend otherwise. Injury to the bicep, tricep, and/or the forearm muscles will affect the function of the elbow. The two most common conditions at the elbow are Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis). They are both tendinopathies where the tendons of the extensor or flexor muscles of the forearm have been aggravated and the inflammatory process is present causing pain when using the forearm muscles.
Wrist and/or hand pain can be caused by a number of factors including trauma, overuse, and nerve injury. The wrist involves four carpal bones and the two forearm bones and the hand has a total of 27 bones. Activities such as typing, playing a racquet sport, or gymnastics where there is a high frequency of a repetitive motion can cause injury to the wrist and/or hand. Common injuries in the wrist include Colles’ fracture, Scaphoid fracture, carpal ligament sprain, DeQuervain’s tendinitis, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Muscle tension, joint mobility restrictions, postural strain, scapular stability dysfunction, shoulder mobility dysfunction, and limited neck range of motion may all contribute to upper back pain. A thorough assessment can determine the cause and a treatment plan will include Chiropractic care, Active Release Techniques, and Rehabilitation/Corrective exercises.
Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints seen in the medical system by family physicians and Chiropractors. Studies have reported that 80% (or higher) of the population at some point in their life will experience lower back pain. A dysfunctional movement pattern, a hyperextension or hyperfelxion injury, a lack of hip mobility, a disc herniation, and a joint mobility dysfunction may all have an impact on the lower back. It is important to determine the cause of the lower back pain and create a treatment plan to reduce symptoms and regain mobility, stability and neurological muscle patterns to rehabilitate the prevent further injury.
The hip is a complex joint in the body. Age of the individual is an important factor when determining the cause of hip pain along with the character of pain and the how the injury has occurred. Low back and sacroiliac joint pain may refer to the hip as well hip pain may refer to the back, knee, and foot. Although true hip pain is located in the groin area. The most common injury to the hip is caused by impact although without adequate functional range of motion, repetitive muscle strain or sprain to the joint may occur. Groin strains, Snapping hip syndrome, Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome, Trochanteric bursitis, and Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome are a few of the conditions creating hip pain. A thorough orthopedic and functional assessment along with imaging may be needed to diagnosis the condition causing the hip pain.
Osgood-Schlatters syndrome is an inflammatory condition of the secondary ossification site of the growth plate of the tibia. The patellar tendon, which the thigh muscles all join together and form, attach at this site and therefore, if the thigh muscles are under a repetitive load consistently, inflammation and pain may develop over time. The condition occurs in active 11-15 year olds who participate in activities such as running, jumping, and squatting. The quadriceps and hamstrings muscles will often be tight as they are trying to keep the knee stable.
The knee is a complex joint in the body and it's primary function is to be stable when the foot is planted. There are many muscles and ligaments that may be injured and cause knee pain. Osgood Schlatters is only one condition out of many. With a thorough history and orthopedic exam, a diagnosis of the muscles and/or ligaments involved in the injury may be determined. Active Release Techniques® is an effective method to diagnosis and treat the muscles and ligaments involved in the injury. Depending on the severity of the knee pain, a rehabilitation program will be an important part of the recovery of the knee injury as well.
Plantar fasciosis, joint mobility dysfunction of the metatarsals, stress fracture, ankle mortise dysfunction, inversion ankle sprain, peroneal muscle strain, and Achilles tendinopathy are some conditions that can create foot pain. In sports involving running, jumping, landing, and balance, the ankle and foot function are important. Determining the cause of the foot pain and rehabilitating the mobility, stability and motor control of the ankle and foot will be essential to a successful recovery.
Nerve entrapments can cause a variety of symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling, burning, cramping, twitching, and weakness of the muscles. Depending on the where and the severity of the nerve entrapment site will determine the prognosis of nerve injury. Active Release Techniques is an effective method to diagnose and treat nerve entrapments along with Chiropractic care. The sooner a nerve injury is addressed the better it is for the recovery and the function of the muscles it innervates.