Abdominal Strain
The rectus abdominis are a pair of muscles lying in the wall of the abdomen passing from the pelvis up to the lower edge of the rib cage. These are often strained by over-use in training or possibly due to a direct blow or by lifting heavy objects. Injury may also occur during a sudden, rough movement as would happen in a judo fall.
Abductor Pain
If the legs are forced apart during a sports injury, the result can be a strain of the abductor ligament. This is situated at the top of the inside of the thigh. Electro-Acupuncture can also be useful in treating this problem.
Achilles Tendonitis
In this condition pain is felt in the Achilles tendon just above the heel. The tendon is often painful to touch. Rupture of the Achilles tendon is uncommon. However, should the tendon be partially or completely ruptured competent orthopaedic treatment must be sought. Electro-Acupuncture is then a useful assistant to recovery.
Ankle Injuries and Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are often caused by a forced sideward movement to either the inside or the outside of the ankle. The ligaments on each side of the joint capsule may be stretched or torn and may bleed internally or externally.
Biceps Tendonitis (Inflammation of the Biceps Tendon)
This gives pain along the front of the shoulder joint where the long head of the biceps lies. The injury is common in sports which require vigorous shoulder rotation such as throwing or swimming. Pain is most commonly felt when the arm is reaching in a backwards direction.
Bunion pain (Hallux Valgus)
This is pain in the big toe joint and is common in older sportsmen. Excessive uses of tight footwear combine over the years to cause bunions, which are swellings of the joint at the base of the big toe. This is often followed by diversion of the joint from its original straight line, towards the outer side of the foot, the characteristic deformity of hallux valgus.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Tight arm bands or heavy hand work can sometimes cause a pressure neuritis and typical pain and tingling (in thumb, index, middle and part of the ring fingers). This is characteristic of carpal tunnel syndrome. The fingers often feel abnormally large. Some patients describe their fingers as feeling like a “bunch of bananas”. If there is no improvement after two weeks consult your doctor.
Calf Strain
Calf muscles lie in the back of the lower leg. There are two main muscles, the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. They both insert into the Achilles tendon which attaches to the heel bone. These muscles are injured through insufficient warm-up, sudden changes of direction, (such as in tennis and squash) fatigue during the closing minutes of a game, or direct violence, such as a kick.
Dead Leg – Thigh Pain
Any muscle may receive a direct blow thereby causing temporary stiffness with pain. The term dead leg is reserved for the muscles on the front and side of the thigh. The direct blow will cause internal bleeding with resultant swelling, pain and the loss of function.
Golfer’s Elbow
This is a similar condition to tennis elbow but occurring on the inner side of the elbow. It affects the origin of the common flexor muscles situated on the inner aspect of the forearm. Pain is caused by bringing the open palm upwards against resistance and also by forming a grip in certain positions.
Elbow – Tennis
This is usually an over-use injury in which the origin of the extensor muscles situated in the back of the forearm are overstretched and become inflamed. Pain is felt on the outer side of the elbow on gripping, lifting or controlling any heavy object such as a bat or racquet.
Hamstrings – injury
These muscles lie on the back of the thigh. They affect the movement of both hip and knee joints. They are frequently injured in sports, during fast movements, such as sprinting, overstretching, and kicking a ball. Fatigue and lack of warm-up are other factors as are uncoordinated movements and direct violence such as a kick or blow from behind.
Bruised Heel – Heel Spur
In these injuries pain is felt beneath the heel, which is often due to simple bruising. This can occur when landing during jumping or hurdling.
Hip Injuries
The hip is a strong joint and is seldom injured during sport. The outer aspect of the thigh, at the level of the hip, can sometimes be injured by direct contact with the ground or other unyielding surface. Recovery from bruising may take 2 weeks.
Cartilages
These are usually damaged due to violent movement of the knee while the foot is stationary, such as twisting.
Pain and swelling will result and the knee joint may lock and give way. One or more of these symptoms may be present. While qualified medical help should always be sought treatment with Electro-Acupuncture should help curb the pain and swelling.e ground or other unyielding surface. Recovery from bruising may take 2 weeks.
Lateral Ligament Strain
Injury occurs when strain is put onto the outside of the joint as in a tackle or from a bad landing such as in basketball when the player lands on the outer side of the foot.
Ligaments
These are situated on the inner (medial ligament) and outer (lateral ligament) aspects of the joint. These prevent excessive sideways movement. Inside the joint are the cruciate ligaments which prevent excessive forward and backwards movement. Ligaments are injured when the joint is forced into unnatural positions. At the front of the knee is the ligamentum Patellae which attaches the knee cap to the front of the Tibia.
Medial Ligament Strain (Sprain of the Ligament on the Inner Side of the Knee Joint)
Injury occurs when strain is put onto the outside of the joint as in a tackle or from a bad landing such as in basketball when the player lands on the outer side of the foot.
Lower Leg Injuries
These injuries are the classic sports related injuries. They are common to long distance runners, aerobics teachers and athletes who change, too often, the surface on which they train and compete. Qualified medical help should be sought to remove the possibility of stress fractures and Anterior Tibial Syndrome. Electro-Acupuncture should help in many cases and help control the pain in more severe situations.
Metatarsalgia (Pain on the Ball of the Foot)
This is pain under the ball of the foot where the supporting ligaments of the metatarsal heads become strained in the line of the toe joints. This is common in people whose work involves a lot of standing. It can also be caused by running or jumping on hard surfaces, or running in hard soled shoes. Appropriate footwear and metatarsal support is essential in these cases.
Neck Injuries
Neck injury is often caused by forcible extension (a backwards movement) of the head. While Electro-Acupuncture can be useful in treating this, it is wise to seek a qualified medical opinion.Lumbar Spine.
The most common cause is narrow discs in the lower lumbar spine. Discs separate the vertebrae and cushion each from the next. Qualified medical opinion should always be sought but Electro-Acupuncture will usually prove to be the ideal “first aid” and can often be totally successful in the relief of low back pain.
Improvement of Physical Performance using Electro-Acupuncture
A recent study was carried out in Norway that tested the exercise response to electrical stimulation. An electrode was applied to Large Intestine 4 (Li4) and the treatment was continued for thirty minutes on each hand.An improvement in running, swimming and ergo meter cycling was regularly observed following this stimulation. Apply Electro-Acupuncture over large intestine 4 (LI4) for approximately 10 minutes on each hand. This can be carried out during the rest period prior to sporting activity and need be carried out once daily only.
This improvement in physical performance is almost certainly due to the release of natural chemicals in the body. The most important of these is endorphin.
Painful Arc (Specific Form of Shoulder Pain)
This is a condition that gives pain when the arm is brought up above the head. During the middle part of this movement pain is felt in the painful arc syndrome. It’s due either to inflammation in one of the tendons around the head of the humerus, or inflammation in the bursa, (situated just beneath the acromion), lying between the acromion, and the head of the humerus.
Rectus Femoris
This muscle lies on the front of the thigh running from hip to knee. It is injured, in the main, by sprinting and kicking movements.
Shin Soreness
Sometimes known as shin splints, this is common in runners. It produces pain on or next to the tibia (the major bone in the lower leg) when standing, walking or running.
Shoulder Joint
This is a common injury and should be treated vigorously. Electro-Acupuncture is usually effective in treatment of the pain. If shoulder pain is left for more than a month then a frozen shoulder may ensue in which stiffness of the joint, as well as pain, occurs. In a chronically painful shoulder that is also stiff, then physiotherapy is an essential approach to treatment.
Tenosynovitis (Inflammation of Forearm Tendons)
This is inflammation in the extensor muscles, running down the back of the forearm. It is caused by repetitive movements such as rowing, screwdriving, etc. This tendon often becomes swollen and feels rough (when the wrist is moved). If not treated early enough rest and strapping with a crepe bandage is required. Electro-Acupuncture is therefore an ideal “First Aid”.
Thoracic Spinal Injuries (to the Chest Spine)
Sometimes an injury is sustained to the middle of the spine. Many sportsmen and women suffer with facet joint problems (the small joints at the back of each vertebra). Electro-Acupuncture is an excellent method of treating this problem.
Wrist Injuries – Sprains
Bruised, cracked or fractured ribs are common in contact sports and, characteristically, cause pain that is aggravated by deep breathing. Modern treatment does not favour local strapping of the ribs, and therefore some treatment for the pain is essential to facilitate normal breathing. Occasionally rib pain may be caused by the muscles between the ribs being strained. Electro-Acupuncture is ideal in both cases.
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