Keeping in theme with our last blog on running injuries, I thought that I would discuss one of the most common running injuries that present to us in the clinic. Patellofemoral pain Syndrome (PFPS). Patellofemoral pain is the term used to describe pain under around or behind the kneecap, it is very common and can cause pain with squatting, stair climbing, walking, running and twisting movements. It can be a frustrating and challenging injury for both the patient and therapist due to the multifactorial nature of the condition. There is [...]

So what can we do? There are a number of treatment modalities that we can provide which all help in the management of Patellofemoral pain. In the short term, Orthotics can be useful, particularly if your foot is a driver of the patellofemoral pain. However there is no evidence to say that orthotics are better than a multimodal physiotherapy approach and so exercises and other interventions will be necessary along with the provision of an orthotic. Specific taping techniques for the individual can help to reduce load on the irritated [...]

Have you ever woken up a day or two post-exercise feeling like you have been hit by a bus, your muscles are that sore?  Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) can be felt following periods of exercise or activity when the muscles are not accustomed to the increased work load. DOMS occurs due to micro trauma to the muscle fibres as a result of increased load on the muscle, and occurs more so during eccentric exercises (when the muscle is lengthening as it is placed under load).  For example, the lowering [...]

Lower back pain is ranked as Australasia’s number one health burden, as it is estimated that 80% of Australians experience back pain at some stage throughout their life and 10% of Australians experience significant disability as a result of their pain. Believe it or not, the biggest predictor of lower back pain is depression. Jarvik et al, found that people who reported depression at the baseline of the study were 2.3 times more likely to develop back pain than those who reported not having depression. This study also highlighted that [...]

What exactly is an ACL injury and why are we seeing more of these injuries in our young children? Anyone who has suffered an ACL injury knows exactly what it is and how painful a tear in this ligament can be. Additionally, healing requires a lengthy treatment process, even if you are lucky enough to avoid surgery. To keep it simple an anterior cruciate ligament helps holds your knee together, in other words it stabilises the knee. When you twist or turn quickly you can tear this ligament and the [...]