What to do after an ankle sprain

Foot and Ankle pain are very common complains seen by Physiotherapists in Parramatta.

The ankle is one of the most commonly injured joint after the knee. The foot and ankle joints are most commonly seen injured in games such as rugby, soccer, netball, cricket and basketball. Or any sport which requires sudden change in direction.

Other reasons for foot and ankle issues can include the use of inappropriate footwear, sudden change in exercise levels or the type of exercise.

Foot and Ankle pain symptoms.

• Sudden onset of ankle pain.
• Can be localized sharp pain.
• Dull ache in the foot region.
• Can be constant pain or intermittent pain.
• Pain with weight bearing.
• Pain which develops after a while of weight bearing.

Ankle sprains symptoms.

• Rolling the ankle while playing sports or walking.
• Hearing a pop or a crack.
• Localized swelling & tenderness.
• Bruising
• Inability to walk normally due to pain.

Foot pain major causes.

• Plantar Fasciitis: You will feel the pain in the heel and the arch of the foot. The pain during the day is at his worst in the morning when you get out of bed. During the day it normally lessen a bit, but it’s still there.
• Impingement: If you feel a shooting, tingling or burning sensation in the inner side and sometimes even in the calf. This may be caused by a pinched or trapped nerve.
• Bunion: A lump found below the big toe joint, this can be very painful and sometimes it get swollen and red.
• Tendonitis: An inflammation of one of the tendons.
• Fracture: A fracture of one of the little foot bones. A fracture in the foot normally heals on its own, with advise and treatments from the Physiotherapist it could speed up the process.

Ankle pain major causes.

• Ankle sprains: A stretch or tear in the ligament that hold your ankle bones and joints together. This typically happens when you accidentally twist or turn your          ankle in an awkward way.
• Fracture: An ankle fracture occurs when there is a break in one or more of the bones. All suspected fractures need to be accurately diagnosed and professionally managed by your health professional to avoid long-term foot and ankle issues.
• Tendinopathy: Your muscles or tendons can become injured or inflamed as a result of overuse or trauma. The inflammation is called tendinitis. They can also tear,  completely rupture, or sub lux out of place.
• Arthritis: Your ankle pain and dysfunction can also be caused by degenerative conditions such as ankle osteoarthritis. While arthritis is normally a chronic deterioration of your ankle joint, it is important to slow the progression of ankle arthritis.

Foot and Ankle pain treatments.

Physiotherapists are trained specialists when it comes to assessing and treating foot and ankle pain. Physiotherapists will conduct an individualized assessment to find out the exact cause of your symptoms before treatment is commenced.

Treatment can include:

• A thorough examination & accurate diagnosis of your injury.
• Anti-inflammatory advice.
• Range of motion exercises.
• Strength work.
• Proprioceptive exercises.
• Strapping – if required.

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specializing in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.

Office Workers! Get rid of back stiffness!

Stiffness, back pain, physio, parramatta

Do you wake up with back stiffness?

Do you feel like the whole back is stiff after a long drive?

Do you feel uncomfortable sitting in the office all day?

Between  80–90% of people suffer from lower back pain in some form at some point in their lives. So.. you’re not the only one. And yes there is definitely a treatment for your problem.

Most of the back problems start because of our lifestyle, inactivity, jobs or your long term posture. Because we get so used to this lifestyle, it’s hard to change it on your own. Don’t worry. We are here to help you.

Why don’t you start by doing some these very simple easy and time efficient stretches that will help you to decrease the stiffness in your back?

Do these stretches regularly once or twice a day and let us know how you go. We are only a phone call away if you need any assistance. 

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specializing in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.

Office workers pay attention!

Office workers, neck pain, parramatta, physio

Are you an office worker? And do you spend a lot of time behind a screen?

One of the biggest contributing factors in chronic neck pain is that we spend hours sitting and working on our computers. Which over time causes neck stiffness and pain.

The most common symptoms of neck pain can include:

• Stiffness
• Sharp pain, localised to one area
• Tenderness
• Shooting pain in the shoulders, arms or finger
• If it spread to the head it can cause headaches as well

If you suffer from one or more of these symptoms, try these simple stretches anytime and everywhere. You’ll feel instant relief of the symptoms.

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.

Tired of hip pain?!

Parramatta, physio,  hip pain

To know what causes your hip pain, we need to have a look at where you feel the pain and what kind of pain it is. Usually if the problem is with your hip itself you will feel pain inside your hip or you groin. If it’s a problem of the muscles, ligaments or tendons around the hip joint you will feel the pain more on the outside of your hip, or the upper tight or buttock.

Hip pain symptoms.

• Limping
• joint pain.
• groin pain.
• loss of motion of the hip.
• warmth
• swelling over the hip.
• tenderness of the hip.
• difficulty sleeping on the hip.

Hip pain major causes.

In this article, we have summed up the major causes of hip pain.

• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common one, especially in people older than 50 years .
• Lower back problems: These can give shooting pain down to your hip.
• Fracture: A fracture of the neck of the femur, your thigh bone.
• Strained muscle: This is a stretched or torn ligament. Falling, twisting or getting hit can all case a sprain.
• Tendonitis: A irritated or inflamed tendon. A tendon is the band of tissue that attach the muscle to the bone and helps with the movements.

Hip pain treatments.

If the pain is too severe, the doctor may suggest to prescribe you some pain-killing medicine. Depending on the injury, he might also suggest a surgery. Other treatments that we use to relieve hip pain for mild injuries, post-surgery or after-surgery are:  working on the strength of the muscles around the hip, stretches, trigger point releases, deep tissue massages. With these treatments we relieve the muscles, increasing the range of motion, decreasing the pain and strengthen your upper legs.

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.

Why do I have knee pain?

Parramatta knee pain

Knee pain is a common problem. It can varies from acute injuries, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage to medical complications even arthritis, gout and infections can cause knee pain. The pain varies as well, it can be highly localised or might be diffuse. In the case of an acute knee injury, rehabilitation therapy may rectify the issue.

Knee pain symptoms.

• Swelling and stiffness
• Redness and warmth
• Weakness or instability
• Popping or crunching noises
• Instability to fully straighten the knee

Knee pain major causes.

In this article, we have summed up the major causes of knee pain.

• Injuries of the knee ligaments: These are common sports injuries, a tear of a ligament. The knee ligaments are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and the medial or lateral collateral ligament (MCL/LCL).
• Torn meniscus: This is a rubbery, flexible and though tissue and acts as a shock absorb-er between your shinbone and thighbone. This injury could happen if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on is.
• Knee bursitis: The bursae are the small sacs of fluid that cushion the outside of your knee joints so that tendons and ligaments glide smoothly over the joint. Some knee injuries cause inflammation in these bursae, the inflammation is what we call the bursitis.
• Arthritis of the knee: Arthritis is a chronic degenerative condition that necessarily requires surgery. Rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis and Osteoarthritis are the three most common types of arthritis in humans. In each of these conditions, common symptoms are stiffness accompanied with swelling.

Knee pain treatments.

The treatments will vary, this depending on what causes the pain. One way to treat the pain is with medication or injections. The doctor may prescribe this to relive the pain and to treat underlying conditions. Depending on what the injury is, it may require surgery.

But what can Physiotherapy do for you. If you have an unstable feeling in the knee, there are some good exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee and make you knee more stable. But if you are physically active or you are practising a sport, you may need exercises to correct movement patterns that may be affecting your knees and to establish good technique during your sport or activity. Exercises to improve your flexibility and balance also are important.

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.

Do I have Arthritis?

Parramatta Arthritis

Most people experience pain at some point in their lives and many will assume that their joint pain is arthritis related, especially if you are in the 50+ age group. But what is arthritis? There are many different forms of arthritis which can affect both the young and old. Each type of arthritis has a different set of symptoms. Read below for common types of arthritis.

Symptoms of arthritis:

Arthritis affects people in different ways, but the most common symptoms are:

• Stiffness or reduced movement of a joint.
• Pain
• Swelling in a joint.
• Redness and warmth in a joint.
• Tiredness
• Weight loss
• Feeling unwell

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the cartilage and underlying bone on weight bearing joints due to wear and tear. This leads to pain, stiffness, creation of extra bone growth – spurs, clicking or grating sensations. Symptoms occur most often in the lower back, hips, knees and even your fingers. OA and degeneration will occur in most people as they grow older, it can be made worse by poor posture, increased weight, abnormal biomechanics and poor nutrition. Doctors can diagnose most cases of osteoarthritis based on symptoms and X-rays. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition, meaning it will become progressively worse over time. It is not a disease, it is part of the ageing process. If you were to look at someone older than you, they would have more wear and tear than you will simply because they have been using their bones and joints for longer than you have.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks normal tissues in the body. Constant inflammation around the joint capsule, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues over time leads to destruction and deformity of joints. Unlike OA, RA affects small joints in the hands and feet and around the lower back. RA is characterized by periods of exacerbation and dormant stages. RA is progressive disease which become worse over time. With this type of arthritis the pain may actually get worse as you rest due to the build-up of inflammation. Blood tests and x-rays can help doctors to diagnose the condition, and treatment by a rheumatologist is central to management.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is arthritis that visibly affects the skin as well as underlying joints. People tend to report symptoms such as red, white or silvery patches of dry skin, pain or discomfort in the skin, or pain in the underlying joints. The dry skin may appear on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands and feet, or on the spine. Factors that can make the symptoms of psoriasis worse include stress or anxiety, medications, exposure to excessive sunlight, smoking and alcohol, or injury to the skin.

Gout

Caused by excess uric acid within the blood stream. The uric acid forms crystals, which accumulate within the joint spaces, causing pain and inflammation. Excess uric acid is associated with a diet rich in meat, seafood, fructose and alcohol, as well as other factors including obesity, metabolic medical conditions, family history, and increased age. Gout is also associated with kidney stones and management includes changing your diet to lower uric acid levels. Contact your GP for medical advice and management. Physiotherapy will help to guide your exercise journey and assist with other pain management strategies, helping to keep you active and healthy. Activities such as hydrotherapy, exercises and stretching have their place in maintaining correct posture and strengthening muscles appropriately to protect the body in areas of pain.

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.

Enough of Migraines?

Parramatta Migraines Headache

Migraines are similar to a headaches but a lot worse in terms of discomfort and lost productive time. Migraine can be caused due to tight muscles and stiff joints in the cervical spine. They can affect children and adults equally. There is no specific age group where migraines are more prevalent. Individuals could suffer migraines from childhood all the way to middle age and beyond. With these statistics, it’s important to seek treatment at an early stage.

Symptoms of Migraine.

The International Headache Society has defined following as the migraine symptoms:

• Pain can be either one-sided, throbbing, moderate to severe or aggravated by movement.
• Migraine is associated with at least one of the following conditions such as; vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound or sensitivity to smell.
• The headache lasts for between 4 – 72 hours.
• Difficulty in concentrating or confusion.
• Stiffness in neck and shoulders.
• Tingling feeling in limbs.
• Speech disturbance.
• In acute cases which are very rare a person may lose consciousness.

What causes migraine?

It is an interaction between the brain and the pain control mechanisms. In a lot of cases pain control is impaired causing the headaches to be triggered. And tight muscles or dysfunction of the muscles in the neck can set off a migraine.

For most of the people who suffer from migraine, it’s hard to trigger the factors that cause the headache. However Dr. Rocchi describes following as the potential triggering factors:

• Allergic reaction or allergies.
• Physical stress such as tiredness, jet lag or excessive exercising.
• Emotional stress, anxiety, depression, tension or even excitement.
• Bright or flickering lights, loud noise, smell, and temperature changes.
• Change in sleeping patterns or irregular sleep.
• Excessive smoking, alcohol.
• Dehydration
• Skipping meals or fasting that causes low blood sugar
• Hormonal triggers such as menopause, birth control pills or menstrual cycle fluctuations.
• Certain food items that contains tyramine, MSG, nitrates, dairy products, chocolates etc.

Common treatments

There are a range of treatments which can reduce symptoms of migraines. There are also preventive techniques you can use to make sure that you don’t have frequent migraines in the future.

You could go to your GP and ask for specific medication, but most of the time they will recommend over the counter medication like paracetamol. However, if the migraine is severe and you are in intense pain. They can give you the best advice about what other medication there is.

Another way of treatment is Physiotherapy, this is a natural way to treat physical causes of migraines. Physiotherapists can assist by reducing muscle tension and mobilising stiff joints. Physiotherapists can also teach you exercises, stretches and postural control to prevent migraines from occurring in the first place.

Conclusion

Migraines are an incredibly painful and unpleasant condition to experience. They are very common, especially among the younger population and can last for a long time. Finding out what causes your migraines and what treatment options are available is of paramount importance.

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.

Sick of hearing the words Cervical Spondylosis and not knowing what it means?

Parramatta Cervical Spondylosis

Spondylosis is a chronical age- related condition that affects the discs and joints in the spine. In this case we’re talking about the cervical spine, which is the neck. Other names for this condition are degenerative osteoarthritis, arthritis of the neck or cervical osteoarthritis.

So what happens in cervical spondylosis? Over time your discs become thinner and they lose their capability of absorbing shocks. This increases the risk of symptoms.

Cervical Spondylosis Symptoms.

The condition is often misdiagnosed or misunderstood. Because the classic symptoms, which are: widespread muscle and joint pain and fatigue, aren’t very distinctive.

Apart from these symptoms, there’re more. We’ve summed the rest of the symptoms up, but note: you may not have all of the symptoms but still have the condition.

• Pain and tender point
• Fatigue
• Sleep problems
• Concentration and memory problems, known as “fibro fog”
• Anxiety or depression
• Morning stiffness
• Numbness, and tingling in hands, arms, feet, and legs
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Problems with peeing
• Painful menstrual cramps

Cervical Spondylosis possible causes.

Like we said before, Cervical Spondylosis is an age-related condition. The older you get the more chance that the protective cartilage and bones in your neck can tear and this could result in cervical spondylosis.

We summed the possible causes up for you:

• Overuse: Heavy lifting and repetitive movements putting extra pressure on your spine. If you have to do these things often in your live, during work or a hobby, it can lead to early tearing of the protective cartilage and bones.
• Neck injury: a previous neck injury can speed up the ageing process.
• Dehydrated spinal discs: The thick cushion discs between your spinal bones that absorb the shock of twisting or lifting can dry out. As a result your spinal bones will rub together, which can result in more pain.
• Ligament stiffness: The ligaments connecting the spinal bones in your body are very though, but over time they can become stiffer. As a result, you’re less able to move your neck. This will give you a tight pain feeling.
• Herniated discs: Again the discs. If a disc starts cracking, it can cause leakage. The material can press on your nerves and spinal cord. This can cause arm numbness and shooting pain down your arm.

Cervical Spondylosis treatment methods.

This condition is a chronicle conditions and had different symptoms. The treatment depends on which symptoms you have, but the mail goal is to relieve pain and help you maintain your activities during your daily live as much as possible. Also the goal is to prevent permanent injury to the spinal cord and nerves.

If the pain is severe, the doctor can prescribe you specific pain killer. But that’s not it. As for a Physiotherapist: we can help you with hands on pain relief techniques, teach you exercises and help you with stretch and strengthen your muscles.

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.

Stop suffering from neck pain!

Parramatta Neck pain

What is neck pain?

Neck pain can be caused by different structures, such as the bones, facet joints or discs. Instant neck pain can arise from minor sprains or poor posture. Recovering from such an instance of neck pain can be relatively simple. But chronic pain is persistent pain that develops and persists. For this kind of pain, proper consideration and treatment is required.

Neck pain symptoms.

The most common symptoms of neck pain can include:

• Stiffness
• Sharp pain, localised to one area
• Tenderness
• Shooting pain in the shoulders, arms or finger
• If it spread to the head it can cause headaches as well

Neck pain major causes.

In this article, we have summed up the major causes of neck pain.

• Muscle strain: this can happen during work:  when you working consistently without changing your position, jerking your neck too much during exercises or keeping your neck in a poor position while sleeping.
• Neck injury: Whiplash, for example in a car accident. Can be caused by sudden jerking of your head with force.
• Spondylosis: Ageing causes degeneration of the cervical discs and this causes pain in the neck region.
• Herniated Cervical disc: Can be caused by a traumatic injury in the past.
• Spinal Stenosis: Can be caused as a result of a long-term inflammation. The inflammation can be causes by arthritis or other conditions.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: The pain in caused swelling of the joints and bone spurs in this area.
• Fibromyalgia: This condition causes widespread pain and tenderness in the neck area. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but the symptoms can be managed.

Neck pain treatments.

The treatment depends on the cause of the pain. But to help you out with acute neck pain or until you can see a physiotherapist, we got some easy neck stretches for you to use anywhere and anytime.

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected].

Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back to full function.