Is Knee Pain Holding You Back?

Knee pain is one of the most common injuries we see in our clinic. This is partly due to there being many different types of knee pain. Today we want to talk to you about the most common knee injury we treat here, it’s known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

Keep reading…

So, what is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and who is at risk?

Great question!

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is a term to describe the pain in and around your knee cap.

For some patients the source of pain can be hard to locate and even harder to describe. As clinicians we describe the pain as vague and diffuse in nature.

Almost everyone who is active is at risk of knee pain, including Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, but there are certain groups that are more susceptible.

People who exercise or play sports, particularly those that involve sudden changes in movement or speed could be vulnerable to knee injuries. This is because when you run, jump, twist and turn, the extra force and impact is taken by the knee joint.

What leads to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

Just like any injury, the exact causation can vary tremendously from one person to the next.

Some of the most common contributing factors include:
- Feet which roll inwards (pronate),
- Having a knee cap which sits towards the outside of the knee,
- Lower limb muscle tightness,
- Poor muscle function or weakness/imbalance (very common),
- External factors such as poor training routines or inadequate footwear (also very common and often missed in differential diagnosis to the untrained eye).

In many of the Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome cases that we treat, there is often a combination of several of the above contributing factors present.

What can you do to help combat this injury?

First of all, you will need to be assessed by an expert who sees Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and successfully treats it often.

When you do present to your practitioner, it will really help in our differential diagnosis and subsequent management if you can keep a record of how your pain has been behaving up to that point.

Important aspects for you to note are:
- The specific location of your pain (although this is often difficult),
- What activities make your pain worse,
- A thorough history of when your pain started,
- Whether you are experiencing any clicking, or giving way of your knee,
- The presence of any swelling around the knee.

You should also always inform your therapist of any previous injuries you have suffered that may be affecting your present condition and future management.

The more accurate the information you are able to provide your physiotherapist, the easier it is to determine the best management plan for you so that you can make a successful recovery.

So if knee pain is preventing you for performing the activities you enjoy, or if you believe the way your body moves may be placing you at risk of developing knee pain in the future, please call our clinic for an initial consultation and we can get you on the road to recovery.

That’s all from us today.

Netball Injury Prevention Program Launched

Netball Australia has launched The KNEE Program, which is a warm-up program aimed to reduce lower limb injuries (specifically Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries in the knee) in netballers.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries account for roughly a quarter of all serious netball injuries and have a significant impact on the lives of the injured individual.

The majority of injuries sustained during netball occur when the player lands from being in the air. The KNEE Program “targets safe take off and landing technique with specific attention to the overhead position required of netballers.”

The KNEE Program stands for Knee injury prevention forNetballers to Enhance performance and Extend play. There are 3 variations of the program catering to all netballers – Junior, Recreational & Elite. The program can be found at http://knee.netball.com.au/ and has a host of resources to explain the program in detail including videos of the program components.

All players, coaches and clubs should be encouraged to commence using the program on a regular basis to help reduce the overall number of serious lower-limb netball injuries.

Busting the Myth: You Need a Referral to see a Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists in Australia are considered to be primary contact practitioners. This means that a referral to see a physiotherapist from a medical practitioner is NOT required. This has been the situation in Australia since 1978. Australian physiotherapists were the first in the world to attain primary contact status. Many countries around the world have subsequently followed this move.

The only exception to this rule in Australia is if the patient's injury is subject to workers compensation or a compulsory third party insurance claim.

Concussion - Do You Know How To Recognise It?

Concussion is a serious injury which can result from direct or indirect impact to the head. The ramifications of concussion can be serious and therefore must be managed appropriately by trained medical professionals. How though do you determine whether someone is concussed and when to seek medical attention? Earlier this year, a group of world leading concussion experts met and developed a Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool. If you, your partner, your children or anyone that you know participates in activity whereby concussion may occur, I urge you to download a copy of the Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool and have it accessible to you.

Physio Fast Facts #4

1. Did you know that you have "core muscles" in your neck? "Core muscles" are regularly referred to in relation to your back, however they exist in your neck to help with your posture and to support the weight of your head.
2. Not everyone has the same number of bones! You can have little extra bones in many areas of the body although most commonly in the feet.
3. Try standing balancing with one foot directly in front of the other. Now try with the other foot in front. More than likely you were more balanced with one foot in front than the other!
4. Have you ever been referred to as being "double-jointed"? You won't actually have any additional joints. Your joints more than likely just allow you to have more movement than most people and this is referred to as being hypermobile.
5. After you injure yourself, your body doesn't necessarily move as it did before! Physiotherapists can help you to move "normally" again after you have an injury.

Detailed Guide to Ankle Strapping

Ankle strapping is commonly used as a preventative measure against sustaining ankle injuries and in the rehabilitation and return to activity following ankle injuries.

This detailed guide provides a step-by-step account (including photos) as to how to strap an ankle for the most common ankle injuries.

Happy taping!

Please note that the taping described is a generic ankle taping and that you are advised to consult with your health care professional to see if this form of strapping is appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Please also be aware that a small percentage of the population can have an allergic reaction to tape. If you are aware that you may have a reaction, you should not apply tape to yourself as per these guidelines. If you do experience an allergic reaction, you are advised to seek medical attention immediately.

Fast Physio Facts #3

1. The difference between running and walking is that running involves a period of time whereby neither foot is in contact with the ground. This period of time is know as the flight phase.
2. The cause of pain isn't always in the area where you feel the pain.
3. Breaks and fractures are actually the same thing when referring to bones.
4. When a joint is sprained, it never completely returns to its pre-injury state.
5. Some people can have an extra rib coming of their neck vertebrae!