Warwickshire Sports Injury, 100 3D Sports Injury animated educational videos are available to view at this Warwickshire Sports Injury Clinic 22 are back related Sports Injury and associated related spinal conditions, diseases, pains and injuries, which can be found listed under ” Pain Management,” “Orthopaedics” and “Complementary Medicine” in our Videos Library section. Also in this library there are Sports Injury 3D animated educational videos covering other types of Sports Injury for the shoulder, arm, hip, leg, knee and ankle conditions / complaints under the same headings. To view the Videos Library, click in the top right hand corner.
Also available are 32 3D animated educational videos for various back related Sports Injury and conditions such as (1) Sciatica (2) Degenerative disc (3) Herniated disc (4) Facet Joints (5) Scoliosis (6) Kyphosis Posture (7) Back Neck and Pain Decompression (they can be found under the listing ”Types of Pain” in our “Back Pain” Section).
For pain management and a Sports Injury at Central Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Sports Injury Clinic, we use the latest Low Level Lasers which accelerate the recovery and healing process, leading to a significant reduction in pain inflammation. A 5 star rating has been awarded to Low Level Laser Therapy, our laser section can be found listed under ”Pain Relief”, please also view our ”Low level Laser Testimonial Video”.
Hip pain causes, symptoms and diagnosis.
The treatment of Hip Osteonecrosis, Piriformis muscle and Running injuries, Quadriceps tears and strains, Hip Bursitis
Hip Anatomy
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The ball is formed by the top of the thigh bone (femur) and is called the “head” of the femur. The socket is formed by the bones of the pelvis and is called the acetabulum. Ligaments tendons and muscles hold the head of the femur (the ball) in the acetabulum (the socket). Articular cartilage is a smooth material that covers the head of the femur and the acetabulum. Articular cartilage covers the bony surfaces wherever they come into contact with each other. Articular cartilage allows the head of the femur to move freely inside the acetabulum as the leg moves. Fluid also aids the head of the femur move freely inside the acetabulum. This fluid is called synovial fluid and provides and lubrication to the hip joint.
The hip joint is surrounded by a “sack” called a joint capsule. Ligaments are like strong fibrous rope like structures that help connect bones and provide stability to joints. Ligaments reinforce the capsule and connect the head of the femur to the acetabulum. These ligaments prevent the head of the femur from coming out of the acetabulum. Larger, stronger ligaments also provide stability to the hip joint.
The acetabulum has a ring of tissue called the labrum (this circles the acetabulum) the labrum also helps provide stability to the hip.
Tendons connect muscles to bone. There are various muscles that surround the hip joint. These muscles and their tendons provide stability to the hip joint when the leg is moved. These muscles are also necessary for activities such as running, jumping and walking.
The hamstring muscles (are at the back of the leg) act with the gluteus maximus (the “buttock muscle”) to move the leg backwards at the hip. The hip flexors (iliopsoas and rectus femoris) move the leg forward at the hip. The groin muscles (adductor magnus and longus) move leg toward the midline of the body. The abductor group (gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and tensor fascia lata) move the leg away from the body and are also stabilize the hip joint.
A bursa or bursae is a small sac of fluid which limits friction between muscles, tendons and bones. The principle bursa of the hip joint is the bursa of the greater trochanter. This bursa is placed outside of the hip joint. An injury can occur by a direct blow or falling directly onto the outside of the hip, or from overuse.
One of the most common causes of hip pain is the inflammation of the bursa called hip bursitis. A bursa is a fluid filled sac that allows extra protection for the tendons on motion between two uneven surfaces. For example, in the hip, a bursa rests between the bony prominence over the outside of the hip (the greater trochanter) and the firm tendon that passed over this bone. When the tendon has to move over the bone and over the inflamed bursa it will result in pain. Because patients with hip bursitis move this tendon with each step, hip bursitis symptoms can be quite painful. Hip bursitis presents as the pain on the outside of the upper thigh. Management of hip bursitis is often directed on balancing the function of hip, knee and pelvis thus eliminating the cause of the pain as well as local application of the cold laser directed on suppression of inflammation and accelerating healing of the soft tissues
Another less common cause of hip pain is osteonecrosis of the joint.
Hip osteonecrosis, also called avascular necrosis, is a condition when the blood supply to the joint gets impaired. An interruption of the blood supply to the head of the femur (the ball, of the ball-and-socket hip joint will cause a decrease in delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the bone, with subsequent necrosis of the bone and collapse of the bone.
Causes of hip osteonecrosis?
Exact causes of hip osteonecrosis are unknown. Because the cartilage of hip joint looses the support of the bone underneath itself, the joint surface is quickly worn away, and arthritis quickly progresses.
Most cases of hip osteonecrosis are associated with either alcoholism or steroid use. Other less common risk factors for developing hip osteonecrosis include sickle cell disease, trauma to the hip (dislocation or fracture), lupus, and some genetic disorders.
Symptoms of hip osteonecrosis
Common symptoms of hip osteonecrosis include:
Aching pain in the groin
Pain with movement of the hip
Difficulty walking or presence of limp
Diagnosis of hip osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis of the hip is primarily radiological diagnosis. The X-ray may be completely normal, or it may show severe damage to the hip joint. If the X-ray is normal, an MRI will be performed to look for early signs of hip osteonecrosis.
The Piriformis muscle.
The piriformis muscle is a small muscle in the groin that runs from the sacrum to the outer hip bone. Should the piriformis muscle becomes tight or cramps it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve which passes underneath the piriformis muscle. Typically this pain increases when the muscle contracts, when sitting for an extended time, or direct pressure on the muscle. Gluteal (or buttock) pain is common. Pirformis syndrome is also a common cause of sciatica
Pain can also be caused by prolonged external rotation of the hip so that the piriformis muscle is shortened. If the sciatic nerve is compressed for an long time there may be aching in the leg and pain in the low back.
Shortening of the muscle and compression of the nerve is the most common cause of piriformis Syndrome, but overuse of the gluts and other muscles in the hip can also cause muscle spasms of the piriformis. Other factors in this syndrome include poor body mechanics and posture, gait problems.
The quadriceps muscles.
The quadriceps muscles group includes four muscles located in the anterior thigh. This muscle group acts to extend the leg while straightening the knee. A pulled or strained quadriceps muscle causes pain in the front of the thigh. A severe pull or muscle tear causes an abrupt, sudden, acute pain that occurs during activity (often while sprinting). It may be accompanied by swelling or bruises on the thigh.
A pulled quadriceps is often the result of a strength imbalance between the quadriceps and the hamstring. Strong hamstring muscles in the back of the leg and weak quadriceps muscles in the front of the leg can result in a pull or a tear. Such a muscle imbalance is not uncommon among runners, since running tends to work out the hamstrings much more than the quadriceps.
The quadriceps is a group of muscles along the front of the thigh. It consists of the quadriceps femoris, the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and the vastus intermedius.
A pulled or strained quadriceps muscle can be identified by a pain in the front of the thigh. A severe tear is abrupt, sudden, and results in acute pain during the activity (often sprinting) and may be accompanied by swelling or bruises on the thigh
Cause
Typically, a pulled quad is the result of a strength imbalance between the quadriceps and the hamstring group, where the hamstrings are more powerful. This is a common muscular imbalance in runners, because running tends to use the hamstrings more than the quadriceps.
Neck Pain “Whiplash” (WAD) Shoulder Pain and Upper and Lower Back Pain. Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy for Pain Relief and Recovery.
Neck Shoulder and Upper Back Pain.
People do not realize how much they move their neck, until they are unable to do so. The neck has the least amount of muscular stabilization to support and move your head, which makes it very susceptible to injury. It doesn’t take much force to disrupt that fine balance.
The spinal cord passes through a space in the vertebrae sending nerve impulses to every part of the body. Between each pair of cervical vertebrae, the spinal cord sends bundles of nerves that pass down the arms and to the upper back, and if your arm is hurting, it may be a problem in the neck! Symptoms in the arms can include numbness, tingling, cold, aching, and “pins and needles”.
The neck can also contribute to headaches, muscle spasms in the shoulders and upper back, ringing ears, otitis media (inflammation in the middle ear, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ or jaw joint). Dysfunction of the neck also causes restricted range of motion and chronic tightness in the upper back.
Causes of Neck and Upper Back Pain.
Neck and upper back pain is caused by a combination of factors, including injury, poor posture, stress, and disc problems.
Injuries
The most common injury to the neck is a “whiplash”(WAD) injury. “Whiplash”(WAD) is caused by a sudden movement of the head.
( View our “ Neck Pain an Whiplash” (WAD) section listed under “Types of Pain”)
Much more common causes of neck pain and headaches are poor posture. It’s easy to get into bad posture habits, can eventually lead to pain and headaches. The rule is simple: keep your neck in a “neutral” position whenever possible. Don’t bend or hunch your neck forward for extended periods. Also, do not to sit in one position for extended period of time. If you must sit for an extended period, make sure your posture is good: Keep your head in a neutral position, make sure your back is always supported, and keep your knees slightly lower than your hips.
Stress
When people become stressed, they unconsciously contract their muscles, Particular the muscles in their back. This ‘Muscle guarding’ or Defence posture is a response designed to guard against injury. Muscle guarding occurs whenever we become emotionally stressed. The area’s most affected are the muscles of the neck, upper back and low back.
Disc Herniations
Discs in your neck may herniated or bulge and put pressure on the nerves that lead from the spine into your shoulders, arms and hands. Although cervical discs do not bulge nearly as often as lumbar discs do, they occasionally can still get damaged especially when damage sustained from a “whiplash” (WAD) injury
( Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy Section Listed under “Pain Relief” .)
Lower Back Pain.
Sprained ligaments, strained muscles, ruptured discs, trigger points and inflamed joints are the many of different conditions that can result in low back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can lead to an injury and pain, sometimes even the simplest movements, like picking up a pencil from the floor, can have painful results. In addition, conditions such as poor posture, stress, arthritis, kidney stones and kidney infections, can be the cause of low back pain.
There may be many other things that can cause low back pain, and some of those things can be serious if left untreated. Physiotherapists are able in diagnosing the cause and determining a proper course of treatment for low back pain. Following are some of the most common causes.
Subluxations
When a disruption in the normal movement or position of the vertebrae occurs it results in pain and inflammation. In the lumbar spine these occur at the transition between the lower spine and the sacrum. Subluxations can lead to debilitating low back pain, however, subluxations are easily treatable and there is often a significant reduction in pain experienced almost immediately after treatment.
Disc Herniations
A herniated disc does not automatically mean that you may suffer from low back pain. In one study almost 60% of all adults had at least one bulging or herniated disc, even though they did not experienced any back pain. However, herniated discs can be a source of severe and debilitating pain, which may radiate to other areas of the body. Unfortunately, when a disc herniates, they rarely, completely heal. Further deterioration can be avoided through Physiotherapy, but a complete recovery is less common.
Sprains, Strains and Spasms
Sprains strains and spasms, are the most common source of low back pain. Overworking the muscles or ligaments of the low back may lead to tears in the tissues, which become painful, swollen and may even ache, with a tightening to the area affected.
Stress
When you become stressed your body responds by increasing the levels of stress hormones leading to the rise of blood pressure and heart rate and tightening up of your muscles. By becoming stressed all the time your muscles will become weak and painful loaded with trigger points.
