common injuries & conditions
Please note: FGMT is now the Soft Tissue Clinic of Brighton
please direct all enquiries to our new website
the following list is only a description of some of the most common
injuries and conditions. massage therapists are fully trained in anatomy
& physiology but professional restrictions do not allow us to diagnose.
if you are unsure about your injury or condition, or have not already
received treatment from a qualified medical or other health practitioner,
we strongly recommend you first see your GP before booking a massage
treatment.
carpal tunnel syndrome
carpal tunnel syndrome is most commonly caused by overuse of the wrist
which in turn causes narrowing and inflammation of the tunnel that houses
the nerves and tendons that lead from the forearm to the wrist. symptoms
can include tenderness, tingling and numbness in the hand and fingers.
overuse can be caused by sports such as cycling, where the wrist is
used for support, or by office work such as repetitive use of a keyboard
or computer mouse.
compartment syndrome
fascia is the network of connective tissue which interlinks all parts
of the body. all muscles in the body are contained within their own
fascial compartments which give them their shape and structure. compartment
syndrome is the collective term given to painful conditions caused by
increased pressure inside the different muscle compartments. chronic
compartment syndrome generally occurs through overtraining where the
muscle expands during exercise due to increased blood flow and is compressed
by the inelastic fascia which surrounds it. it is most common in the
lower leg where it can occur at the front, back or on either side
fibromyalgia
a chronic condition which causes pain in muscle tissues without any
inflammation. other symptoms include general aching and stiffness, fatigue,
headaches, numbness and tingling. fibromyalgia can be triggered by anxiety,
stress, poor sleep patterns and overuse of muscles.
frozen shoulder
the common term for adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a chronic
painful stiffness in the shoulder joint. this may be the result of an
injury, or may gradually develop through overuse of the muscles of the
shoulder, or sometimes for no apparent reason.
general muscle soreness
all muscles can go into spasm or become tight due to a sudden increase
in exercise or activity that the body is not used to (eg the first bout
of spring gardening). the spasm or tightness causes increased pain and
possible reduction in power in that muscle. muscle spasms can also be
aggravated by stimulants (eg caffeine), some medications, emotional
stress etc. although rest usually helps to reduce muscle pain from spasm
or tightness, without additional treatment such as massage the simple
activities of daily life will cause it to reappear.
golfers elbow
the common term for medial epicondylitis, this is a painful inflammation
of one of the tendons at the elbow caused by overuse of the forearm
muscles. it is similar to tennis elbow, the only difference being the
location of the tendon affected. as with tennis elbow, only 5% of people
suffering have developing their injury from playing golf. golfers elbow
can also be caused by playing any racquet sport or by carrying out repetitive
one-sided movements in a job (eg carpenter) or leisure activity (eg
gardening). some people may suffer from both tennis and golfers elbow
simultaneously.
headaches & migraines
there are many causes of headaches and migraines. one common cause
is stress which causes muscle tension, particularly in the neck, head
and shoulders which in turn can produce a pattern of chronic headaches
and migraines.
lumbago (lower back pain)
lumbago, or lower back pain, often has no specific cause and is defined
as pain and stiffness in the lower back region either on lifting or
twisting, but sometimes for no reason. it can also indicate a weak back,
or lumbar insufficiency, which is due to incorrect technique (in sports)
or poor posture.
neck & back pain
neck and lower back pain in particular are very common chronic conditions
which are often caused by our sedentary lifestyle. working long hours
on computers, driving and sitting down for extended periods of time
can all contribute to general and non-specific aches and pains in the
neck and shoulders and/or lower back and hips.
patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)
this is a general term for pain felt under the front of the patella,
or kneecap. this pain is often chronic and is particularly aggravated
by activities such as jumping, or even just going up and down stairs.
PFPS can be caused by misalignment of the knee joint or muscle imbalances
which prevent the patella from moving smoothly over the knee joint.
piriformis syndrome
the piriformis is a deep muscle which helps in rotation of the hip.
the sciatic nerve often passes close to, or in the case of some people,
through the piriformis muscle. this means that when the muscle is tight
the sciatic nerve can become compressed which causes sciatica - pain
in the buttocks, down the back of the thigh or down the whole of the
leg. because of these symptoms, this condition can also be mistaken
for a slipped disk.
plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome
a painful condition of the heel and sole of the foot caused by tension
in the plantar fascia, which is a ligament-like band running from the
heel to the ball of the foot. this causes pain in the heel, bottom of
foot or toes which is typically worse in the morning. the tension in
the plantar fascia can eventually lead to the formation of heel spurs.
plantar fasciitis is common in runners, people who spend a lot of time
on their feet or people who sit at their desk and keep their heels off
the floor.
repetitive strain injury (RSI)
general pains and loss of function, usually in a limb, caused by repeated
movement or sustained static loading. symptoms may include chronic pain,
especially at night, inflammation, tingling, numbness and general weakness
in the affected area. carpal tunnel syndrome, golfers elbow and tennis
elbow are all common RSI conditions.
rotator cuff injuries (shoulder pain)
the majority of shoulder pain conditions are caused by damage to the
rotator cuff muscles, particularly the supraspinatus muscle. symptoms
include increased chronic pain at night causing problems with sleeping
on the injured side, restricted movement of the shoulder and loss of
strength.
runners knee
the common term for iliotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome. this is
a painful condition of the outside or lateral knee. the ITB becomes
inflamed where it passes over the head of the tibia bone. the bursa
(a protective gel filled sac) may also become inflamed which is called
bursitis. runners knee is commonly caused by extensive downhill running,
running on cambered roads or as a result of genetic imbalances in the
hip and leg.
sciatica
sciatica is a pain which radiates from the lower back down one or other
leg and may also be accompanied by lower back pain. it is most commonly
exacerbated by exertion, coughing, sneezing or straining. sciatica can
be caused by a slipped disk or by a temporary trapping of the sciatic
nerve due to muscular restriction or strain. in severe cases there may
be numbness, weakness and reduction of reflexes in the affected leg.
shin splints (lower leg pain)
the common term for medial tibial stress syndrome. this is a painful
condition of the lower leg caused by inflammation of the periosteum,
or covering, of the tibia bone. this condition is a common complaint
of athletes who have recently changed from one playing surface to another,
changed their sports shoes, altered their techniques or increased their
training on hard surfaces.
snapping hip syndrome
‘snapping’ or ‘clicking’ hip syndrome is
characterised by either an audible ‘snap’, or a sensation
of snapping, around the hip on certain movements. the snap is caused
by a tendon slipping over part of the femur bone in the thigh. this
syndrome may be termed either external or internal depending on which
tendon is involved. snapping hip syndrome is generally painless, but
may become painful or uncomfortable in some cases.
tendinitis
tendons attach muscle to bone and can become inflamed, most commonly
due to excessive overuse. tendinitis is the clinical term applied to
virtually all painful tendon structures and can occur anywhere in the
body. tendinitis is amongst the the category of repetitive strain injury
(RSI).
tennis elbow
the common term for lateral epicondylitis, this is a painful inflammation
of one of the tendons at the elbow caused by overuse of the forearm
muscles. it is similar to golfers elbow, the only difference being the
location of the tendon affected. as with golfers elbow, only 5% of people
suffering have developing their injury from playing tennis. tennis elbow
can also be caused by playing any racquet sport, golf or by carrying
out repetitive one-sided movements in a job (eg carpenter) or leisure
activity (eg gardening). some people may suffer from both tennis and
golfers elbow simultaneously.
TMJ syndrome
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome is a painful condition of the
jaw affecting the TMJ itself as well as the muscles that move the jaw.
there may be limited movement of the jaw and the joint may click when
opened & shut. a common cause of TMJ syndrome is stress which results
in clenching of the jaw and tooth grinding.
torticollis
also known as wry neck. a painful spasm of the neck muscles which causes
the head to gradually turn to one side until it is eventually continually
held to the side.
thoracic outlet syndrome
the thoracic outlet (sometimes also referred to as the thoracic
inlet) is the area of the neck where the nerves that serve the arm exit
from the spinal column. when the muscles in this area of the neck become
tight they can press on these nerves and cause symptoms such as pain,
numbness and tingling down the arm.
tinnitus
tinnitus is the sensation of sounds in the ears and head, typically
a persistent buzzing or ringing noise. it may also be accompanied by
ear pain, decreased hearing, dizziness and vision problems. tinnitus
often accompanies TMJ syndrome and can be due to tension in the muscles
of the neck and head.
whiplash
trauma to the cervical spine (neck) caused by rapid extension and flexion
of the area. the most common cause is a road traffic accident where
one vehicle is run into by another from behind. ligament, bone and muscle
injuries can result in chronic pain.
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