Sciatica is radiating pain that follows a dermatomal distribution (specific area of the skin supplied by a specific nerve) down the leg1. By name this would suggest the sciatic nerve is involved, but colloquially the term “sciatica” is used to encompass any nerve that produces this uncomfortable shooting/lightning/radiating/tingling pain1. The two important things to realise…
Continue Reading Injuries Unpacked #14: Sciatica & Lower Back→
Plantar fasciopathy is one of the most common causes in heel pain (1). Though previously termed ‘plantar fasciitis’, due to patient presentation and pathological changes in tissue structure similar to those of tendinopathies, longstanding plantar fasciopathy is now considered a tendinopathy (2). The plantar fascia is a thick, weblike connective tissue which supports the arch…
Anatomy Skeletal muscles are made up of elastic muscle fibres that are bundled together and wrapped in connective tissue. Each skeletal muscle consists of different tissue types. These tissues include the skeletal muscle fibres, blood vessels, nerve fibres and connective tissue. Each tissue type has an important role and is vital in helping our bodies…
Tendons form the attachment points between our muscles and bones and are found all over our bodies. Their main function is to transmit forces from our muscles, acting somewhat like a spring to amplify our own muscle forces, and to absorb external forces on the body. Each tendon is composed of a combination of fibrous…
Continue Reading Injuries Unpacked #11: Tendons – The spring in your step→
Anatomy The gluteus medius muscle runs from your hip bone and ends behind a bony prominence on your femur called the greater trochanter. The muscle joins to the greater trochanter through a piece of connective tissue called a tendon. This muscle is very important for keeping the pelvis stable when you walk. It also moves…
Continue Reading Injuries Unpacked #10: Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS)→
Stress injuries begin as early-stage bone softening which, if poorly managed, can progress to full-blown fractures. Traditionally these injuries were managed by resting for 6-8 weeks before returning to physical activity, however this approach actually leaves patients worse off: with higher chance of re-injury and delayed return to sport timeframes (1). Our bones are constantly…
Continue Reading Injuries Unpacked #9: Why rest alone won’t fix a stress fracture…→
