An ACL tear is an injury of the anterior cruciate ligament, which is located in the knee joint. A common injury among athletes, it compromises the stability of the knee joint, restricts mobility and flexibility, and causes pain and discomfort in the knee. Types of ACL Tears ACL tears and injuries typically involve damage to other structures in the knee, including the meniscus, articular cartilage, as well as other ligaments. Based on how damaged or sprained the ligaments are, these injuries are then categorized into three types: Grade 1 Sprain: This describes an injury in which the ligament undergoes minor stretching and if mildly damaged. The knee is still mostly stable, and you can continue with most of your activities without much disturbance. Grade 2 Sprain: This refers to an injury in which the ligament is [...]

ACL tears are injuries of the ligaments in the knee, connecting the joint to the bones. While the severity of the injury varies depending on the type of ligament sprain, it’s usually a painful condition that causes significant distress. Here are a few activities that may cause ACL tears. Participating in High-Impact Sports High impact sports are the biggest cause of ACL tears and related injuries. High impact sports are those in which you have to move excessively and intensely, using your weight-bearing joints including the knees. Individuals who play sports such as football, hockey, or basketball frequently are likely to get injured and sustain an ACL tear because of the nature of the sport. Since they have to run at high speeds during the game, the chances of them experiencing a high-impact fall are [...]

Injection therapy has steadily become the preferred choice of treatment in Canada for patients suffering from body pain. It is non-surgical and requires less recovery time. You may have heard of the terms PRP therapy and Prolotherapy being discussed in this context. They’re both forms of injection treatment that target the musculoskeletal system and are used to treat painful joints, ligaments and tendons in different parts of the body. Instead of suppressing pain and inflammation, they restore the affected areas naturally. So what’s the difference between the two and is it worth it? Procedure The primary difference between Prolotherapy and PRP is the substance being injected. In Prolotherapy, a natural irritant such as dextrose is injected to create inflammation. The contents of these injections then attract granulocytes. The granulation tissue is rich in fibroblasts and [...]

Despite the popularity of the sport, golf is notorious for different kinds of musculoskeletal injuries it can cause. In part one of this blog series, we took a look at a few common types of injuries golf players are likely to sustain. Here are a few more golf injuries you should know about. Wrist Injuries Golf involves a lot of repetitive movements. Just how repetitive swinging motions can cause overuse injuries of the elbow such as golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow, they can also affect the tendons in the wrist, causing wrist tendinitis. This involves swelling of the wrist tendons, causing pain and stiffness at the wrist when making simple or specific movements. In particular, it hinders the rotating motion of the wrists. As is the case with most tendon injuries, those pertaining to the [...]

Golf is a beloved Canadian sport, often taken up by athletes during their childhood or teenage years. However, this summer sport also causes a number of musculoskeletal injuries that may range from mild to severe. Here’s a look at a few of them. Golfer’s Elbow (elbow tendinitis) Let’s start with the most common injury sustained by individuals who play golf on a regular basis: golfer’s elbow. Also known as medial epicondylitis, this occurs when the inner tendons attached to the elbow get injured. This form of injury is typically brought about because of repetitive motions involved in the game, such as the continuous swinging of the arms back and forth when hitting the golf balls. As a result, the inner tendons become inflamed or sore, causing stiffness not just while repeating specific motions but also when [...]

Your sleeping posture plays a huge role in the health and functionality of your shoulders. If you’ve been waking up each morning with an ache in one or both your shoulders, or if they’ve been feeling unusually sore for extended periods, it may be because of the posture you adopt while sleeping. Here are three sleeping mistakes to avoid. Sleeping Curled Up A lot of people prefer sleeping in a fetal position, curled up on their sides with the legs bent. However, instead of only slightly bending their legs in this position, they end up bringing them all the way up to their chests. The posture seems comfortable initially and may even lead to a peaceful sleep. However, the hunched position tends to hurt the shoulder you’re sleeping on as well as your neck. The [...]

Plantar Fasciitis is an injury of the heel caused by overuse of the muscles in the feet. It’s especially likely to affect hikers and presents as a common foot pain problem. Here are a few ways you can prevent sustaining this injury. Use Proper Footwear You can’t just head off on a hiking expedition in your old trainers. Just how you need to pack the right hiking essentials for your trip, such as a trail map, hiking poles, and flashlights, you also need to be dressed appropriately for the occasion and invest in the right footwear. Hiking trails can be rough, and the wrong shoe type can cause you to slip and hurt your foot. Make sure you buy a sturdy pair of hiking boots before you head out for a hike. These should have [...]

Hip flexor strain is an injury of the hip flexor muscles. It presents as a number of symptoms that allow for the condition to be identified.  The most obvious sign that you have hip flexor strain or tendonitis is of course immeasurable pain in the hips and the pelvic region. Apart from this, symptoms also include: Muscle spasms at the thighs Muscle spasms at the hips Soreness of the thighs or upper legs Difficulty stretching the leg, thigh, or hip muscles Difficulty doing tasks that involve sprinting, kicking, or jumping Pain in the stomach or pelvic area Decreased range of motionof the hip Stiffness in the hips or thighs after being in a stationary position Pain or stiffness while walking  Causes of Hip Flexor Strain So, what causes hip flexor strains in the first [...]

Joint ache is a debilitating reality for hundreds of Canadians. Whether it’s your “bad knee” that’s causing you discomfort or your shoulder joint that feels stiffer by the day, joint pain has a nasty way of limiting your range of motion and impacting your quality of life. Have you been experiencing aching joints lately? This may be why. You May Have Osteoarthritis The most common reason for persistent joint pain is osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative condition that weakens the cartilage. It causes the cartilage to break down, increasing the friction between the bones as they rub against each other directly. This results in bone bruising, swelling, and joint pain. Osteoarthritis mainly affects individuals over the age of 50. However, it also affects younger individuals who overuse their joints. For example, if you’re in your thirties [...]

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the tendons present in the wrist. These tendons are responsible for the movement of the thumb from the hand. The inflammatory condition causes a sharp, shooting pain in the wrist, near the thumb. It also makes it difficult to perform actions that involve gripping things or twisting your thumb and wrist. A number of strengthening exercises can help with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. These include: Wrist Flexion Take a can or a jar and hold it in your hand with the palm facing up. Gently bend your wrist, moving it upwards. Repeat the exercise by reducing and increasing weight. The latter should be done when your tendons begin to heal and you feel stronger. Wrist Extension In contrast to the wrist flexion exercise, in this case you hold a weight [...]