Is Bracing Effective?

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Stuart

Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is one of my least favorite injuries. It can be disabling, nagging, and sometimes even relentless! A commonly recommended treatment involves the use of a tennis elbow strap. There has been some support in the literature regarding these orthotics, however results in the literature have varied. A nice new study published in a recent issue of JOSPT assessed the efficacy of these devices in a group of 52 subjects with lateral epicondylitis. The study ex...

Elbow Bursitis- What is it and What can i do about it?

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Stuart

The elbow contains a large, curved, pointy bone at the back called the olecranon, which is covered by the olecranon bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that allows smooth movement between the bone and overlying skin. Inflammation of this bursa leads to a condition called olecranon bursitis. The causes of elbow bursitis may include trauma or a hard blow, excessive leaning on the elbow, infection through puncture wounds or insect bites, or conditions such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis. People in...

What’s the Latest with Tennis Elbow Strengthening?

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Stuart

Load Management Load management and activity modification are vital in the rehabilitation of tennis elbow. From the elite athlete to the weekend warrior this can often feel like the end of the world. This can be achieved by reducing the aggravating activities within possible occupational and recreational limits. Through use of appropriate education and communication the athlete can be Tendon disorders have been closely studied in Australian physiotherapy circles. Researchers...

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Stuart

What is it? Tennis Elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis is an overuse injury of the forearm and the wrist extensors tendons, primarily the extensor carpi radialis brevis and common extensor tendon typically presents as progressive pain over the lateral aspect of the elbow. It is primarily due to repetitive strain from tasks and activities that involve loaded and repeated gripping and/or wrist extension. It historically occurs in tennis players but can result from any sports that requ...

Rehabilitation of Peroneal Tendinopathy

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Stuart

1) Strengthening As soon as it is comfortable to do so, you should start strengthening the Peroneal muscles. Strengthening helps the collagen fibres within the tendon to realign and also helps develop the strength needed for running. Start with isometric exercises which are static contractions. An easy way of doing this is to sit on the ground with the legs out straight on the insides of a chair. Position the front two chair legs on the outsides of the feet. Push outwards with th...

What is a Peroneal Tendinopathy?

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Stuart

You have currently been training for a full marathon. In preparation for you marathon in a few months time you have been increasing your training regime more rapidly. After your most recent 10km training session at a higher intensity you have started to experience a dull pain around the back and outside of your ankle. Upon presenting to your local physio and after reviewing your symptoms it appears that you have a Peroneal Tendinopathy. So what exactly is a Peroneal T...

What is Proprioception / Balance of the Ankle?

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Stuart

Proprioception is also known as the Joint Position System (JPS). JPS is a system that allows the joints to send a continuous stream of information to the brain about muscle use, joint position and movement. This allows us to know subconsciously where our limbs are in space without looking and it’s also the sense that produces sudden reflex actions when we sense danger. For example, close your eyes..... do you know exactly how your hands are placed? Of course you do! That’s your propriocepti...

Are Ankle Braces Useful?

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Stuart

There is a lot of misinformation being circulated about ankle braces and their effect on the body and athletic performance. Why Use a Brace or Support? A support brace helps you by: Relieving your pain Resting the injured tissues by taking some of the stressful loads Protecting the injured structures from further injury Allowing for initial tissue healing Preventing future injury by support or joint stabilisation. A hinged style ankle brace that allows full up...

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT ANKLE SPRAINS

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Stuart

When should I see a Physio?The first reason to see a physio is to be evaluated for a fracture. Signs of a fracture include the inability to bear weight following the injury or if there is tenderness over the bony protrusions of the ankle or foot. In these situations X-rays should be performed to assess for a fracture. Another reason to seek medical advice is to reduce the risk of recurrent or chronic ankle problems. The most important risk factor for ankle sprains is a previous ankle sprain...

Foot Mechanics: There’s more to keep in mind than just what your feet are doing.

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Stuart

Running mechanics have been a hot topic of discussion - from the barefoot crazy to custom-made orthotics, it is possible to find someone who swears by ‘their’ style of running. Many running stores have treadmills with recording equipment set up to help find “the right shoe for your mechanics”. So what is different when you have your gait analysed by a physical therapist? A comprehensive analysis performed by a physical therapist looks at the foot mechanics in several ways — a non-weight be...