Chronic pain can be from a number of issues and is often associated with unresolved non-specific low back pain or arthritis, such as osteoarthritis. It can also be from neuropathic pain, where the nerve itself becomes dysfunctional and sends out nociceptive (pain) signals. Unfortunately, you are not usually given a specific diagnosis and have to [...]
Dancers frequently have pain and dysfunction in many different joints. This is due to the demands placed on their body which require extremes of flexibility, control, coordination, strength and endurance. Many dancers are hyper-flexible as this helps them to move their bodies into the extremes of range that they require for some forms of dance. [...]
Dizziness can be caused by both serious or minor problems and you should consult your general practitioner if you have dizziness or vertigo. There are some forms of dizziness that physiotherapy can help such as dizziness after a stroke or head injury, Meniere's disease, Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPV), inner ear problems (Vestibular vertigo) such [...]
Frozen shoulders generally occur between the ages of 40 and 60. The cause is not known but the capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, painful and gradually gets tighter. This stiffens the shoulder, hence reducing movement. As the condition continues, it becomes less painful, but the shoulder remains very stiff. It is thought [...]
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and physiotherapy often helps to reudce and resolve these types of headaches. Tightness in the neck muscles, especially those that attach to the base of the back of the skull (occiput) or those muscles in the front of the neck (sternocliedomastoid muscle), can cause headaches. Stiffness [...]
Muscle tears can happen spontaneously, due to trauma or sport and leisure activites. The most common area for Spontaneous muscle tears is in the shoulder rotator cuff, especially as people get older. Calm muscle (gastrocnemius and soleus) tears are commonly caused during sports such as running or athletics. They can even happen with walking, more [...]
Weakness can occur in muscles after injury or gradually from postural & movement habits. Common muscles affected by weakness are: Deep neck flexors (Longus Capitis & Longus Colli) Shoulder rotator cuff muscles (Infraspinatus, Supraspinatus, Subscapularis), Scapula muscles (Serratus Anterior Spinal core muscles (Transversus Abdominis & Lumbar Multifidus) Hip abductors (Gluteus Minimus & Medius), Hip external [...]
Joint replacements, fractures (with or without internal fixation), arthroscopy (key hole surgery), anterior cruciate ligament repair, knee meniscal repairs, shoulder rotator cuff repairs, and spinal surgery can all benefit from input from a physiotherapist. Gradually increasing the complexity of exercises post surgery can help you return to your activites of daily living (ADLs) and sport. [...]
