BRINGING SCIENCE TO TREATMENT
in Diagnose & Treat, Leg injuries
The plantaris muscle and tendon are considered unnecessary for the biomechanical function of the lower limb. Yet this benign muscle can cause problems if ruptured or involved in a medial Achilles tendon injury. Chris Mallac explains why, and how to manage an injury to either. The plantaris muscle (PM) is a small, thin, and spindle-shaped muscle... MORE
in Anatomy, Leg injuries, Pre-hab and post-surgical rehab, Uncommon injuries
Chris Mallac looks at the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment options for proximal hamstring ruptures in athletes. Although an uncommon form of hamstring damage (only eight to 12% of all hamstring injuries), an untreated rupture at the muscle origin leads to significant functional debilitation(1-3). The actual incidence of undiagnosed rupture may be much higher, thus accounting... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Leg injuries, Musculoskeletal injuries
Tracy Ward examines the principles of standard hamstring rehabilitation, expands them to differentiate by anatomical location within the muscle group, and shows how this translates into more specific rehabilitation protocols. Hamstring injuries are the most common soft tissue injuries seen in team field sports and track. The very high rate of re-injury (as high as... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Hip injuries, Leg injuries, Musculoskeletal injuries, Prevent
In the first part of his two-piece review on psoas major (PM), Chris Mallac discussed the relevant and complex anatomy and biomechanics of this unique and misunderstood muscle. In part two, Chris looks at how PM dysfunction may manifest as a musculoskeletal problem, and the corrective interventions a therapist can use to manage PM dysfunction. PM... MORE
in Anatomy, Diagnose & Treat, Leg injuries, Strength
Adam Smith explores the anatomy of intramuscular hamstring tendons, outlines an injury classification system and using a case study, provides treatment and rehab options following surgical repair. Hamstring injuries are the most common muscular injury in athletes with most injuries occurring at the musculotendinous junction(1-3). There is some evidence that injuries that involve the intramuscular... MORE
in Leg injuries, Musculoskeletal injuries, Overuse injuries
Sean Fyfe sheds light on the best way to rehabilitate and prevent future recurrence of soleus muscle injuries in distance runners. There are many causes of calf pain in runners. However, when the most obvious causes are eliminated and pain still persists, therapists may be left scratching their heads. If that is the case,... MORE
in Acute injuries, Diagnose & Treat, Leg injuries, Overuse injuries
Andrew Hamilton reviews the clinical presentation and assessment of quadriceps strains, along with a discussion of appropriate imaging used in diagnosis. Strains and contusions of the quadriceps are common in sport and frequently result in lost time from training and competition. Acute strain injuries of the quadriceps occur in sports such as soccer, rugby, and football,... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Hip injuries, Leg injuries, Musculoskeletal injuries
Michael Lancaster discusses potential diagnoses in cases presenting with rear thigh pain, and how to sleuth out the cause. Posterior thigh pain provides a great challenge to sports physiotherapists around the world, with the most common cause being hamstring strains(1). However, there are a number of structures that cause pain both locally or referred. Identification of... MORE
in Email Newsletters, Leg injuries, Musculoskeletal injuries
Triathletes are runners too. So are football, soccer, and rugby players. Triathletes, however, have the added stress of swimming and cycling prior to running. This means their lower legs are already fatigued when engaged to run. Physiotherapist Trevor Langford examines the role of the tibialis posterior in today’s feature article. This muscle lies under the... MORE
in Leg injuries, Musculoskeletal injuries, Overuse injuries
Trevor Langford looks at the anatomy and biomechanics of the tibias posterior, and outlines suitable examination protocols as well as the treatment and management options for dysfunction The tibialis posterior tendon (TPT) is a major player in the optimal functioning of foot biomechanics, particularly as it provides stability to the medial longitudinal arch (MLA)(1). Dysfunction not only presents... MORE
