Problems Areas

Headache

Stress can bring on headaches, but more often than not it is the tightness and reduced blood flow in the neck muscles (resulting from stress) that causes the pain referring into the head.
Have you ever had one sided headaches or eye pain? These could quite easily be the result of joint or muscular problems arising in the neck.
Treatment including soft tissue release, stretches, joint mobilisation and postural analysis can help greatly with the reduction and cure of neck related headaches.

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Clunking Jaw

The TMJ (Tempro-mandibular Joint) is responsible for Jaw movement. Like any joint it has the ability to become stiff and or painful. A clunking Jaw is not uncommon and can be treated with ultrasound and soft tissue techniques.

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Catching Pain

Experiencing a catching pain in your shoulder when you lift your arm out to the side or above your head usually means that shoulder impingement is occurring. This means that the shoulder mechanics are not working effectively which causes the joint to trap a tendon in certain positions. The longer this is left without treatment the harder the mechanics are to correct.

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Frozen Shoulder

Otherwise known as Adhesive Capsulitis. This can cause severe restriction and pain over a long period of time. GP's will often say that symptoms will subside after about a year. This may be the case, but pain relief and mobilisation can help make things far more comfortable.

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Chest Pain

The Thoracic spine is the mid part of your back. It is not uncommon for the inter costal nerves to be irritated at the thoracic spine and to refer pain along the line of the ribs to the front of the chest. This pain is commonly mistaken as angina or heart pain.
A chartered physiotherapist can differentiate between the two. True heart pain is investigated further by a heart specialist, but referred pain from the thoracic spine is relatively easily treated by manipulation.

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Golfers Elbow

This condition is not just suffered by golfers. Pain on the inside of the elbow when gripping or lifting (even light things such as a cup) can be experienced by anybody.
Ultrasound, soft tissue manipulation, stretches and strapping are some of the things that can help cure this problem.

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Carpal Tunnel Pain

Through the Carpel Tunnel in the wrist runs the Median Nerve. This can be compressed due to inflammation, causing pain or in particular pins and needles especially at night. There is often an element of referred pain from the neck or upper back.

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Bladder Problems

Physiotherapy has an important role in the management of bladder and bowel problems such as leakage of urine, wind or stool at inappropriate and often embarrassing moments.

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Groin Strain

Common in sports, but can also occur when lifting or twisting awkwardly. An ongoing strain (ie more than 4 weeks duration) needs to be carefully assessed to rule out a hernia or spinal referred pain.

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Ligament Pain

Sprained ligaments can cause sharp pains when moved quickly or into certain positions. They can cause aching pains, especially if the area has been over worked or left in one position for to long. They are also prone to feeling particularly stiff in the mornings. Don't let it get you down - do something about it! Ultrasound, soft tissue manipulation and graded, specific exercise can all help reduce pain and stiffness from damaged ligaments.

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Aching Knees

Arthritis can cause your knees to ache, but so can mal-tracking knee caps. Both can be helped with appropriate treatment.

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Shin Splints

Pain in the shins, usually associated with runners. The problem normally arises when there is a sudden change in training protocols. For example; increase in distance, speed, or different terrain. Inappropriate footwear can be a culprit. The runner may also be predisposed to the problem because of poor running style or muscle imbalance.
Appropriate advice on training techniques, footwear and stretches, and a muscle imbalance assessment can quickly resolve the problem of shin splints.

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Sprained Ankles

The ankle ligaments and capsule (the joint covering) can be significantly damaged if you have sprained your ankle. This can produce pain, swelling, stiffness and poor balance. A chronic, untreated sprained ankle is often weak and prone to reoccurring episodes of trauma.

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Arch Collapse

Flat feet? Over pronated? Collapsed arch? They are all basically different terms meaning the same thing - poor foot mechanics. This can lead to problems with your knees, hips and even your back.
A state registered podiatrist (foot specialist) can help correct the poor mechanics by designing individualized orthotics (supports that fit comfortably into shoes or trainers).

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Bunion Pain

Normally experienced on the side of the big toe, but sometimes on top of any of the toes. It will be red and sore, especially when wearing shoes. A State Registered Chiropodist can help by designing special inserts or pressure pads.

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Whiplash

Car accidents are not the only cause of whiplash. Fairground rides, horse riding and surfing are examples of potential whiplash.
Symptoms can arise in the neck and shoulders or lower back, and commonly do not appear for 1-3 weeks after the accident. Early treatment is essential as symptoms can be up and down for up to 2 years.

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Neck/Shoulder Pain

Very common when you allow your posture to become lazy, therefore rounding your shoulders, poking your chin out and slouching your upper back. You then rely on the ligaments and inappropriate muscles to support you. Areas of ischemia (poor blood supply) then develop and cause pain.
Adjusting your posture and doing relevant exercises and stretches are crucial in curing and preventing these problems.

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Mid Back Pain

Sitting at your desk all day, followed up by sitting in your car and then slouching in front of the TV, is a recipe for mid back problems.
Your thoracic spine and ribs need exercise! If simple exercise does not help, come and see us!

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Disc Problems

Herniated, slipped, prolapsed, bulged, are all words that you may have heard to describe disc problems of the lower back. They all essentially mean the same thing - the toothpaste like fluid in the center of the disc has been forced out into a position that compromises either a nerve or pain sensitive structures such as ligaments of the spine.

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Tennis Elbow

This condition is not just suffered by Tennis players. Pain on the outside of the elbow when gripping, lifting, or turning a door handle can be experienced by anybody.
Ultrasound, soft tissue manipulation, stretches and strapping are some of the things that can help cure this problem.

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Lower Back Pain

LBP can be caused by a number of things. You can be active, sedentary, or just bending forwards. Any of these scenarios can cause problems.
There are also a number of physiological structures that relay pain messages to your brain - nerve, joint, muscle, ligament, tendon, etc.
Relevant treatment depends on the structures that have been affected and the duration of the pain.

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Wrist Tendonitis

Pain in and around the wrist could be due to Tendonitis. Keyboard users can be prone to this problem; however, it is the way the keyboard is used that is the problem, not the keyboard itself.
Adjusting your posture and optimizing the position of the keyboard can very often have an immediate effect.

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Hamstring Tears

A common sports injury that, depending on severity, can take from 2 weeks to 3 months to recover. There is always a definite sudden occurrence of sharp pain associated with this injury. If you are experiencing hamstring pain that was of gradual insidious onset then consider reading Sciatic Pain.

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Sciatic Pain

Pain radiating down the back of the leg into the calf and possibly the foot may be referring from your lumbar spine (lower back). Pressure on the sciatic nerve where it leaves the spine can cause this pain. You can have sciatica without back pain, and the further the pain spreads down your leg the worse the condition is.

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Wear & Tear

The knee takes a lot of grief during life and is prone to wear and tear. This can be due to the knee joint itself in the form of cartilage degeneration, or the knee-cap (patella) in the form of poor alignment and poor mechanics.

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Locking Knee

This is most likely due to a meniscal (cartilage) tear, but can also be due to patella (knee cap) problems. Either way the symptoms are unlikely to subside with time.

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Calf Tears

A common sports injury, but the calf can also be torn when sudden exertion is needed, such as jumping off a step, or running for a bus. Bruising is often experienced in the ankle or on the outside of the foot, and walking is extremely painful.
However if it feels as if you have been shot / kicked in the calf but no pain is experienced thereafter, and you find it hard to stand on tiptoes, then you may have ruptured your Achilles tendon. This is a serious injury that requires immediate medical attention.

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Archilles Tendonitis

A stiffness or grating sensation experienced in the back of the foot, just above the heel bone.
A common complaint in sports people who do endurance type events. However, a long walk in poorly supportive shoes can also bring it on.

Acute Achilles Tendonitis is easily cured with treatment, but in the chronic form it tends to take more time. Untreated Chronic Achilles Tendonitis can, in some cases, lead to tendon rupture.

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Heel Pain

This could be due to direct impact such as a heavy landing, causing damage to the fat pad of the heel. More commonly a gradual onset of pain is experienced due to 'Plantar Fasciitis' which is due to an over stretched ligament that attaches to the heel bone.

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