Common injuries

In this section

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  Achilles tendon injuries

  Achilles tendonitis is a common injury among runners, but may also occur in people with pronated feet, high arches, tight calf muscles and those who wear inflexible running shoes. Overuse of the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel occurs in the case of dancers, runners and walkers who exert a lot of stress on the tendon during their activities. more »

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  Ankle sprains

  A sprain is a tear in a ligament, whereas a strain results when a muscle or tendon is torn. It is important to get a professional diagnosis, since there may be damage to tendons, bones and other joint tissues in addition to ligament damage. more »

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  ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries

  Treatment for an ACL injury may necessitate surgery or reconstruction, or it may be non-surgical. Non-surgical intervention includes the wearing of a knee brace to provide stability and physiotherapy. more »

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  Back pain

  Back pain is very common among athletes and may be the result of spine injuries such as fractures or sprains. A physiotherapy evaluation for back pain includes a subjective history of the type of injury, symptoms and prior level of function. more »

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  Calf strains

  The calf muscles can become injured or torn due to poor stretching or overuse - this is common in athletes, especially runners. Physiotherapy treatment involves pain management, stretching and strengthening exercises. more »

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  Compartment syndrome

  Compartment syndrome is a condition caused by swelling within the space or "compartment" that contains muscles, nerves, blood vessels and bones. more »

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  Disc prolapse

  Also called slipped disc, sometimes all it takes is a sudden, forceful movement to cause a disc to prolapse. Physiotherapy is effective in relieving pain and treating this condition. more »

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  Foot injuries

  In this article we will look at some of the most common foot injuries and how physiotherapy can help. more »

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  Fractured clavicle

  The clavicle (collarbone) can be broken during a fall where the person lands on the side, as is common in most contact sports. more »

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  Fractured ribs

  Rib fractures commonly occur from direct blows or from indirect crushing injuries. Simple rib fractures are not life-threatening, but can be painful and lead to other injuries. more »

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  Groin injuries

  Groin injuries involve the adductor muscles that go from the pelvis to the knee and help to bring the leg in toward the body. A rupture or tear in the muscle can occur during these activities, leading to groin strain. more »

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  Hamstring strain

  The hamstrings play a critical role in daily activities such as running, walking, jumping and controlling some trunk movement. A hamstring strain also called a pulled hamstring is common in some sports. A physiotherapist will be able to assist in recovery from a hamstrting strain. more »

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  Hand and wrist injuries

  Made up of an intricate assortment of bones, ligaments, tendons and nerves, the hand and wrist are involved in almost every activity of daily living, and as such, they can be easily injured. more »

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  Iliotibial band injuries

  Iliotibial band syndrome is sometimes referred to as runners knee or Iliotibial band friction syndrome which all mean the same thing. more »

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  Knee injuries

  The knee joint is a complex structure of many components. Its anatomy lends itself to a variety of injuries. more »

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  Kneecap pain

  Kneecap pain or patellofemoral syndrome is pain in and around the kneecap or patella of the knee. Irritation to the soft tissues in front of the knee, or a breakdown of the cartilage can lead to pain. Runners who over train or train during injury are especially prone to this condition. more »

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  Lumbar spine injuries

  A lumbar spine injury may take the form of a muscle strain, in which the muscles are stretched or torn; or a lumbar sprain may occur in which the ligaments are torn. A lumbar spine injury leads to low back pain and loss of function and is the cause of most hospital visits. more »

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  Metatarsalgia

  Metatarsalgia is a condition that manifests itself in pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot. Wearing shoes with soles that are too thin for the activity can lead to metatarsalgia. more »

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  Muscular injuries

  Muscular injuries may stem from a direct blow or trauma, sudden forceful movement or from overuse. In more severe injuries, the muscle may not respond to treatment and surgery may be necessary. more »

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  Overtraining injuries

  Many athletes make the mistake of thinking that more is better, but this is not always the case. more »

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  Plantar fascitis injuries

  Plantar fascitis is inflammation of the fascia (thick band of tissue) at the bottom of the foot where it attaches to the heel bone. This is common in athletes who do a lot of running and jumping. more »

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  Quadriceps injuries

  The most common type of quadriceps injury is a contusion, which can result from a direct blow to the thigh from another person or object. more »

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  Runner's knee (iliotibial band friction) syndrome

  A condition that causes pain on the outside of the knee, runner's knee can be treated by a physiotherapist. more »

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  Shin splints

  Shin splints is a common injury among runners, in which there is pain on either the inside or outside of the shin bone. There are a number of treatments and preventative measures that you can take. more »

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  Shoulder injuries

  There are a few different types of shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff injury, dislocation and acromioclavicular joint injury. Your physiotherapist will help determine the type and extent of your injury and to design a treatment plan. more »

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  Snapping hip injury

  Sometimes called dancer's hip, this is a condition in which the person feels a snapping of the hip when it is flexed or extended. Physiotherapy can help if there is pain present. more »

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  Soft tissue injury

  Soft tissue injury may occur in the skin, in the muscle, fascia, tendons and ligaments. Soft tissue injuries often stem from overuse and repetitive stress injuries, which can lead to tendonitis, bursitis and other types of inflammation. more »

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  Spinal cord injury

  Spinal cord injuries may be caused by motor vehicle accidents, falls and sports injuries. Some diseases such as multiple sclerosis may also affect the normal functioning of the spinal cord. more »

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  Sports hernia

  Sports hernia is a tear in the muscles of the lower abdomen. Men are more prone to this condition than women. Diagnosis of the condition can be difficult since it may stem from injuries to the lumbar spine, the hip joint, the abdomen or the genitor-urinary system. more »

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  Strains and sprains

  Strain is the term used when a muscle is damaged or torn. Sprain is the term for tearing of a ligament or joint capsule. more »

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  Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow

  As the name implies, this form of injury is very common in tennis players and golfers. Your physiotherapist can identify the mechanism of injury and develop techniques to prevent future injury. more »

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  Thoracic injuries

  Thoracic pain or evidence of thoracic injury should not be ignored as the thoracic or chest cavity contains important respiratory organs which can be easily compromised. more »